John Joseph Donaghy Jr.

John was born April 11, 1931 to Sadie and John Donaghy Sr. John’s sister, Helen preceded him in death. In John’s teens, he attended North Catholic High School and became interested in Track and Cross Country Running and also competed in the Pennsylvania relays. Eventually his coach recommended him for an athletic scholarship to St. Joseph’s College. During his freshman year in 1950, Uncle Sam decided to draft him into the US Army. John immediately joined the Navy and went to Great Lakes Naval Base for training as an airman. He was ultimately assigned to a plane based on an aircraft carrier.

Having served his tour, he returned to Philadelphia and found initial employment as a bookkeeper in an insurance agency. He studied and became an insurance underwriter. He married and had six children. As an insurance underwriter he travelled quite extensively.

Later in life he met and married Sandy. John became a stepfather to Sandy’s daughters. They were then blessed with another daughter. In 1991 they had the good fortune to land a position in Florida. He developed an agency with several employees and they covered several states. The business flourished.

John has spent many years in the Pinellas Park Rotary Club and has received the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship Award for his contributions.

As a true sportsman, he has at times held season tickets to all the local professional sports teams. As his legs failed him, he found himself particularly interested in watching the Tampa Bay Lightning. His idol was Marty St. Louis, has now been named to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Everyone knows Irishmen are known for their clichés and John had many he repeated over and over.

I leave you with this: I was told to lose weight and grow taller so I walked on my tip toes, enough said!!

Visitation held 1pm until service time at 2pm with military honors, Sunday, October 28, 2018 at Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home.

Arrangements were made under the direction of Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home, 7950 131st Street, Seminole, FL 33776 / 727-391-0121.