John Donegan
Jan. 12, 1917-Dec. 6, 2013
Portola Valley, California
John M. Donegan died on December 6, 2013, at age 96, in his residence at The Sequoias, in Portola Valley, California.
John was born on January 12, 1917, in Algona, Iowa, to John Howell Donegan and Welcome Mae (Johnston) Donegan.
After spending his early childhood in Iowa, his family moved to Phoenix, Arizona, in the 1920s, where his father worked for Southern Pacific railroad as a switchman.
The oldest of five children during the Depression, John held jobs as a youth in a goldmine, a grocery store and a bicycle shop to help support his family.
After graduating from Phoenix Union High School, John attended college in Tempe for two years, before receiving his BS from the University of Arizona in 1939.
Following graduation, he taught math at Mesa Union High School in Arizona, before enlisting in the military in 1941 and receiving pilot training. After receiving his wings and a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps in 1942, he was deployed to New Guinea as a B-25 bomber pilot in the Fifth Air Force, where he flew 48 combat missions including fighting in the pivotal Battle of the Bismarck Sea.
On August 18, 1943, he and most of his crew were badly wounded while attacking the massive enemy airfield at Wewak, New Guinea. Separated from his formation, and under repeated attack from fighters, he managed to successfully reach and crash land at his home base despite destroyed rudder controls and over 250 bullet and shrapnel holes in the fuselage. He received the Distinguished Service Cross, the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and other decorations.
After his return to the U.S. and recovering from his injuries, he served as a test pilot at Wright Patterson Field in Dayton, Ohio, where he met wife-to-be Joan Claggett. They were married on March 10, 1945.
Following his discharge from the military as a captain, they settled in Palo Alto, California, where he attended Stanford Law School and Joan taught school. Graduating in 1949, he joined a local law firm, quickly rising to partner. He established his own law firm in 1968, and retired in 2000.
He took great pride in being asked by President Reagan to establish, along with another attorney, the Reagan Presidential Foundation and library. In addition to his law practice, he was active in a number of civic organizations, serving as the president of the Palo Alto Area Bar Association, the Stanford Area Boys Scouts Council, the Chamber of Commerce, the Palo Alto Rotary Club, and the Stanford Golf Club.
John was an ardent golfer, and was a member of Palo Alto Hills Golf Club, Stanford Golf Club, and Menlo Country Club. His enthusiasm for the sport lead him to golfing trips in Scotland, Ireland, and Hawaii. He eschewed golf carts until his mid-eighties, and he was known to play by himself during driving rainstorms if none of his friends could be persuaded to join him. He achieved three holes in one, including one on an iconic hole at Spyglass. Other interests included backpacking, travel, collecting antique maps, and the study of history.
John?s grandchildren have fond memories of their "Grampo" and "Grammo" squeezing orange juice and making them breakfast during visits, and many wonderful Christmas seasons spent together.
Joan predeceased him in 2001. He is survived by sons John (Mary Anne) and Bruce (Nancy), and daughter Kelly (Jim), his grandchildren Eliza Stine (Dan), Evie Donegan (Shane), Paul Donegan, Candice DiGiulio, and Chloe Donegan, and by his great-granddaughters Junia and Rosie Stine. He is also survived by his brother Jim Donegan. His brothers Dick Donegan and Bob Donegan, and sister Laura Patton predeceased him.
Tags: veteran
