Retired Boston Police Detective Robert J. "Doug" Donahue, a 62 year resident of Winthrop and formerly of Charlestown, entered into eternal life on Friday, July 29, 2016 surrounded by his loving family at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston following an extended illness. He was 84 years old.
Doug was born in Boston on March 29, 1932, a son of the late John J. Donahue and Helen (Savage) Donahue. He grew up in Charlestown where he was educated in the Boston Public School system and graduated from Commerce High School .Doug joined the Boston Police Department in 1960 and was assigned as a Patrolmen to District 4 in the South End of Boston before being transferred to District 7 in East Boston and District 15 in Charlestown which is now considered Area A. He was promoted to Detective where he served in Area A before becoming the Boston Police Department, Police Prosecutor for Charlestown District Court where his portrait still hangs in the hall of the court house. He received the William Taylor Award for most arrests and retired in 1997 following 37 years of faithful service to the City of Boston. Doug never turned down a detail in his career so that he could provide for his beloved wife and nine children. He was the former Night Representative of the Boston Police Patrolman's Association for District 7 in East Boston and was also the former Commissioner of Winthrop Cemetery in Winthrop.
Doug is the beloved husband of the late Anne L. (Carr) Donahue. He is the devoted father of Linda Donahue, Robert J. Donahue Jr. and his fiancé Debra Lombardo, Thomas and Diane Donahue, Ann Barker, Sean and Tina Donahue, Carol and Harry Benson, Maureen and John DelSolio, Mary and Chris Page and the late Paul J. Donahue. He is the loving Papa to 20 Grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He is the dear companion of Josephine Donahue. He is the brother of Donald Donahue and the late John J. Donahue Jr. He is also lovingly survived by many nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are cordially invited to attend visitation from the Ernest P. Caggiano and Son-O'Maley Funeral Home, 147 Winthrop St. Winthrop on Wednesday, August 3, 2016 from 3 to 8 P.M. The Funeral will be conducted from the funeral home on Thursday, August 4, 2016 at 9 A.M. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. John the Evangelist Church, 320 Winthrop St. Winthrop at 10 A.M. Interment to follow the mass in Winthrop Cemetery.