Pat and Patti Donohue and their family.

Joseph “Pat” Donohue and his wife Patti were born and raised and spent their first 40 years in Cincinnati, Ohio. Nicknamed Pat, he was born on St. Patrick’s Day 1923 and says he even believed for a couple of childhood years that the day’s celebration was in his honor! “Both of us learned strong values and we had good parents to guide us,” Pat says. “Growing up in the Catholic Church, we were taught to live by our faith, share our blessings and help other people.”

Partly because they are natives of Cincinnati, the city where Glenmary Home Missioners is based, they became aware of the then-new religious society as young people. “Our teachers told us about the missionaries who serve around the world,” Pat says. “But we also learned about people in need in our own country and how Glenmary’s mission work makes a difference.”

Pat served during World War II as a first lieutenant in the Army Air Corps. After the war, he earned his chemical engineering degree at the University of Cincinnati and began his career with the Interchemical Corporation (later Inmont), where he eventually became senior vice president.

He and Patti married in 1950 and began raising their family of five daughters and two sons. Later, his career took the family to Wooster, Ohio, and then New Jersey, where the couple still reside. Throughout their lives they have been active participants in their parishes: For instance, Pat was involved in leading parish Holy Name Societies and coordinating Cursillo retreats. He and Patti are also 50-year auxiliary members of the Legion of Mary.

The Donohues have always believed in supporting worthwhile causes through both volunteering and financial contributions. Thirty years ago they began making generous donations to Glenmary, and they’ve provided regular support ever since. In fact, they have included Glenmary in their will.

The couple grew more convinced of the importance of Glenmary’s mission after Pat’s experiences on business trips through the South, where he observed the small number of Catholic churches and the sometimes anti-Catholic attitudes.

“From our seats in the bleachers, we became aware again of the need for Glenmary’s good work,” he says. “And we decided it was important to keep helping them through giving.”

Their final move to New Jersey also brought new community involvement in CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Hunger Walks—a commitment that has lasted 25 years and counting. The goal is to raise funds for international relief and development, as well as local hunger-fighting.

After retirement, he and Patti volunteered yet again with the local Marriage Prep program, in which married couples work with engaged couples to help them get ready for marriage. They coordinated the entire program for 10 years—for well over 300 engaged couples—and met with three or four couples per year themselves.

Now married 58 years, the Donohues made one of their most important decisions regarding their will—motivated by the desire to help fund worthy charities such as Glenmary Home Missioners in the future. “Our children are all older, successful and well established,” Pat says. “We thought it would be a little selfish on our part not to share with vital causes like Glenmary.”

This article originally appeared in the Spring 2009 Planning Ahead Newsletter

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