Obituaries

John T. Donahue

John T. Donahue of Riverhead died Oct. 28. He was 88 years old.

Born Jan. 4, 1925, to Daniel and Elizabeth (Hannon) Donahue, John was the second youngest of five children. His siblings, Sara, Daniel, Mildred and Eleanor, predeceased him.

After graduating from Riverhead High School in 1944, he joined his brother Dan in operating the family farm in Calverton until 1970. He went on to work at the Long Island Cauliflower Association and then the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, retiring in 1986. He then spent 24 seasons as a dockmaster at Shinnecock Canal County Marina in Hampton Bays.

John is survived by his wife of 63 years, June; his daughter, Joyce, and her husband, Bill Sickles; his son John and his wife, Linda, and their children and grandchildren; and his son James and his partner, Will Feinberg.

After surviving a heart attack and bypass at age 57, John lived every day to the fullest, taking pleasure in the simple things in life. He loved being outdoors and taking his four-mile walks. He also loved cars and NASCAR races. John enjoyed tending his vegetable garden and sharing its bounty. He was passionate about spending February in Florida and returning each spring to work at his beloved Shinnecock Marina. But most of all, he loved his church and family.

A funeral Mass will be held Saturday, Nov. 2, at 11 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church in Riverhead. Arrangements were handled by Reginald H. Tuthill Funeral Home in Riverhead.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the church, 546 St. John’s Place, Riverhead, NY 11901 or Peconic Bay Medical Center (PBMC Foundation), 1300 Roanoke Ave., Riverhead, NY 11901.

This is a paid notice.