John Lawrence Donnelly III passed away suddenly on December 30,2020 at Jersey Shore Medical Center. He was born on May 20, 1936 to John and Anne (nee Healey) at Margaret Hague Hospital in Jersey City. He attended St. Joseph’s Grammar School, St. Peter’s Prep, and graduated from St. Peter’s University with the Class of 1958. He then accepted a Regular Commission in the Marine Corps. In July of that year, he married Mary Barbara Butler. Together they went to Quantico, Virginia to begin a 5-year career in the Marines. While on active duty at Camp Pendleton, California, John received orders to be the Combat Cargo Officer on the USS Skagit, AKA 105, in the Western Pacific. He served in that capacity for 2 years. In 1963, John resigned his commission attaining the rank of Captain and began a successful 35-year career in banking. He retired in 1997 as a Senior Vice President at PNC Bank. Also, in 1963, he and Barbara and their children moved to Westfield, New Jersey where they resided for 37 happy years. While living in Westfield and commuting daily to New York City, he volunteered on the Westfield Senior Citizens Board of Directors rising to be President of the Board. Seeing that project grow from an idea to two apartment buildings housing Westfield Seniors, was a source of pride. He was a communicant of the Church of St. Helen, Westfield.
After retiring from Banking, he and Barbara moved to Wall Township, New Jersey which proved to be a magnet for family gatherings at his beloved Shore. He volunteered for Meals on Wheels. He was a member of the Church of St. Catharine in Spring Lake, New Jersey.
In 2017, he and Barbara moved to Seabrook Village in Tinton Falls, New Jersey.
Among his favorite things, his family always came first then his love of Jersey City, especially the Prep and his monthly lunches with fellow Prepsters, his boat the “Valhalla”, fishing, and an audience for his wonderful stories.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, his daughter Mary Ann Little and her husband Iain of Oxford, England their children Tom, Kate, and Rosie. Daughter Elizabeth Clancy of Hopkinton, MA and her children Connor and Caroline. Son John IV and wife Paula and their triplets Katie, Matthew, and Sean of Ramsey, NJ. Son Thomas and wife Laura and their children James and Emma of Hingham, MA. A niece Patricia Boardman and nephew George Voloshin. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister, Audrey Voloshin and her daughters Barbara and Joanne.
Visitation Thursday January 7, 2021 from 2 to 5pm at O’Brien Funeral Home, 2028 Hwy 35 Wall, NJ, www.obrienfuneralhome.com. Funeral Mass will be on Friday January 8, 2021 10:30am at St. Catharine Church, Spring Lake followed by interment at The Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery Arneytown, NJ. In lieu of flowers donations to St. Peter’s Prep. Jersey City or The Resident Care Fund at Seabrook Village, 3000 Essex Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07753. Due to the Covid-19 executive orders of Gov. Murphy, please be mindful that all gatherings must follow capacity limitations, the wearing of masks, and the maintenance of social distancing.