Daniel James Donahue

A resident of Riverside, Connecticut and Pacific Palisades, California, Daniel James Donahue died suddenly on Oct. 21 in Pacific Palisades.

He was born in Chicago, Illinois on Jan. 28, 1939. He was the eldest son of Donald F. Donahue, Sr. and Mary Fuller Donahue. He graduated from Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois, and then attended at West Point.

After graduation, Dan completed Ranger and Paratrooper training at Fort Benning, Georgia and Fort Campbell, Kentucky. During his Army service, he was in charge of the Guerilla Warfare Training School in Korea from 1962-1963.

Dan resigned from the Army in 1963 to pursue a career in finance. He joined Merrill Lynch where he worked for 37 years, ultimately becoming District Director in New England. During his early years at Merrill Lynch, he attained a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Chicago.

Dan retired from Merrill Lynch in 2000 and directed his energy to many activities, including founding the Fieldpoint Private Bank and Trust in Greenwich with his good friend, Dan Tully, and others.

Dan served as founding Chairman and ultimately, in May 2014, he became Chairman Emeritus.

“Duty, honor, country,” West Point’s motto, were guiding principles throughout Dan’s life.

Everywhere he lived or worked, Dan remained dedicated to a life of serving others and making the world a better place. He enjoyed being active in many charitable causes and community organizations.

In Tacoma, Washington he chaired a town-wide fundraiser for all private and parochial high schools. In Greenwich, Connecticut he chaired the Republican Town Committee, was an early supporter of the Arch Street Teen Center and was a founding board member of the Greenwich Point Conservancy.

He was Parish Council President at St. Catherine of Siena, and a devoted member of the parish. In New York, he was the Chairman of the New York City Roundtable for the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and was Chairman for the Tri-State United Way. He was appointed to the Grace Commission in Washington D.C.

One of his favorite experiences was to be in charge of Merrill Lynch’s Scholarship Builder Program in Harlem. Through that program, he helped mentor a class of 25 students from Kindergarten through their school years and beyond.

It was also in smaller, less notable ways that Dan lived these principles. He spoke out and wrote letters for less fortunate people to institutions that might not otherwise listen, and performed acts of generosity and kindness wherever he went.

Dan had a serious gravitas and sterling integrity that commanded respect, and yet his sharp wit and easy laugh made him beloved by all who knew him well. He loved reading and his book club, golfing and his partners, boating and fishing with his grandchildren, traveling the world, mentoring young people, providing advice to the many who came to him and simply enjoying his family as an incredibly devoted husband, father and grandfather.

Dan is survived by his wife Judy; his children Daniel, Joseph and Laura; his daughter-in-law Katharine and son-in-law Michael; and his seven grandchildren Daniel, Charles, Samuel, Henry, Hannah, Connor and Ryan. Dan is predeceased by his parents and brothers and by his infant daughter, Susan.

Dan will be interred at West Point after a private funeral. Memorial services will be held at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 4 Riverside Avenue, Riverside, CT at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to “Campaign for West Point” at WPAOG, 608 Mills Road, West Point, NY 10996, or a charity of one’s choice.