Joseph George Donahey, Jr.

The Honorable Joseph G. Donahey, Jr. of Clearwater, Florida, a retired Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge, has passed away at the age of 91. He was also an Army veteran, a prosecutor for the Sixth Circuit, a criminal defense attorney, an advocate for the visually impaired, a philanthropist, and a beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend.

Born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania to parents Joseph G. Donahey, Sr. and Pauline Fohringer, Joe moved to Largo, Florida as a boy with his mother and sister. He graduated from Largo High School where he was a member of the football team, the band, and a singing group with two other classmates. He was voted most athletic by his peers. After high school, he attended Penn State University, joined the Army, and then continued his education at St. Petersburg Junior College and The University of Tampa. He went on to attend law school at Stetson University.

Joe began his career in the legal field as a prosecutor for the Pinellas-Pasco Circuit, but went on to become one of the most sought after and prominent criminal defense attorneys in the Tampa Bay area, even winning several awards and recognition for his work, including being named one of the best lawyers in America by the American College of Lawyers. He is most recognized for his work in the murder case involving his client, and later friend, Tom Sawyer. Due to the manner in which the interrogation was performed in Sawyer’s case, Joe was able to get the confession of Sawyer thrown out and Sawyer was able to continue his life as a free man. Years later, authorities used DNA testing to revisit the case and the actual perpetrator was discovered; Tom Sawyer was totally vindicated. Joe Donahey’s work in this case transformed the landscape regarding how interrogations were monitored and recorded and how confessions were obtained, and because of this, police departments now have clearly outlined policies on recording, breaks, and requests for legal representation during interrogations.

In addition to his career as a lawyer, Joe was also heavily involved in working with his community and donated a great deal of his time, energy, and love of music to the Largo High School Band of Gold. He mentored students, worked with them through competitions, helped with fundraising, and even spearheaded the plan to take the Band of Gold to the Netherlands in the mid 1970’s where the students competed against other marching bands with members of all ages at World Music Contest, which the Band of Gold won in every category. He also acted as emcee for many of the competitions that Largo High School hosted throughout that time.

Following many successful years as an attorney, Joe sought a new challenge and became a judge for the Sixth Circuit which included Pinellas and Pasco Counties. He spent his first few years on the bench overseeing criminal trials. In 1999, after undergoing back surgery meant to improve chronic pain, Judge Donahey lost his vision due to negligence by the doctor. Not one to be deterred, Judge Donahey went back onto the bench as a blind judge with his seeing eye dog Radar by his side working with the juvenile courts. For his time on the bench, he received the “John U. Bird Distinguished Jurist Award”.

During his time as a judge, Joe continued his philanthropic efforts through his creation of the Judges in Schools Program in Pasco County where judges would go to middle schools to mentor at-risk students with the hope of leading those students to a better outcome in life. The program was designed to get chronically truant students to see the importance of attending school and how their lives can be improved through education. He was inspired to start this program when the son of a man who had come before him in the criminal court room was now in front of him in the juvenile court room. Joe had a strong desire to break the cycle of risky behaviors and predictable unfortunate outcomes. The students that were mentored showed improvement in attendance, grades, and discipline.

While navigating his career, Joe Donahey also participated in the Eckerd College Roads Scholar program, which was designed to educate citizens about all aspects of the Criminal Justice System. He was involved with this program for nineteen years. He also frequently lectured as a guest at many of our local colleges and universities.

Joe Donahey also frequently donated his time and energy to the Lighthouse of Pinellas, whose mission is to improve the lives of those who are visually impaired. He served on the board of the Lighthouse and would regularly offer guidance to the CEO and leadership board. Joe would often visit various organizations in Florida to speak on behalf of the Lighthouse Organization. He would also often share messages of hope and success with others who were blind through zoom calls, radio shows, and other public appearances. Joe worked diligently to help improve experiences and advocate for the mental health of other blind people in need of assistance.

Through five decades of Joe Donahey’s philanthropic efforts, thousands of people were able to change the trajectories of their lives because Joe Donahey showed them they could strive for better. Joe’s involvement in their lives, through music or mentorship or both, gave them hope. In recognition of his life’s work, Joe received the Local Heroes award from the Tamba Bay Lightning Organization.

Throughout his life, Judge Donahey enjoyed the simple pleasures of tending to his rose bushes which he would occasionally clip to give home-grown bouquets to his wife Tena and cheering on the Penn State Nittany Lions. Following his blinding, he also enjoyed the company of his seeing-eye dog Radar. Justice was his passion and it was important to him to find the right answer rather than the popular or compromising answer. He never wavered from his principles.

Judge Donahey is preceded in death by his parents, his siblings Jack and Pat, and his dog Radar. He is survived by his loving wife Tena, his son Sean, his brothers Tom and Terry, his sisters Candy and Denise, many brothers-and-sisters-in-law, and many nieces and nephews.

A Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 11 from 4-6pm at Sylvan Abbey Funeral Home in Clearwater, Florida 33759.

A Celebration of Life is being planned for a future date.

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