OBITUARY
William Franklin Donnelly
William Franklin (Bill) Donnelly, an operations officer who rose through the ranks to become a senior CIA executive, died September 22, 2017 at the age of 89. In 1997, on the occasion of the Agency’s 50th Anniversary, he was named a CIA Trailblazer. During his 36-year career, he was the recipient of a variety of awards and commendations, the first being the Certificate of Merit with Distinction in 1964. In subsequent years he was awarded two Distinguished Intelligence Medals. He was named Deputy Director of Administration (DDA) in 1986, and became Inspector General under DCI William Webster. He retired in October 1990. Mr. Donnelly, known in CIA ranks as “Mr. D,” began his career in the Clandestine Service. He served abroad 1959-1965 in Warsaw, Poland. He helped negotiate the PL 480, Title 1 (Food for Peace) grain sale to Poland. The sale eventually contributed to the funding for the construction of a new embassy in Warsaw, the building of a school, and a variety of educational and cultural exchange programs. Mr. Donnelly’s first wife, Margery Jean Beaz Donnelly, whom he married in 1950, was discovered to have cancer in the early 1970s and died in 1979. He continued to travel and be involved in Soviet/East European operations world-wide, but was not posted overseas again. After a tour as Deputy Chief of the division then responsible for CIA SIGINT operations and liaison with the National Security Agency, he was named Chief of the DO/Information Management Staff. In that role, he oversaw teams which automated the Agency’s stations abroad and upgraded the Directorate of Operations’ records system, as well as the computer center which supported it. In 1983, Mr. Donnelly left the Clandestine Service and was named Director of Communications. He supervised a worldwide upgrade of equipment, including portable tactical equipment which became invaluable when dealing with terrorism. He also oversaw the testing of a pay-banding – pay for performance – system before the idea was tried elsewhere in Washington. In 1985, he was named Director, Office of Information Technology, responsible for CIA computer centers and software. He later became the last non-Senate approved CIA Inspector General and joked “that it took an act of Congress to get him to retire.” In subsequent years he was treasurer of the CIA Legal Defense Fund and until 2007, a member of the board of directors of the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation. When posted abroad, Mr. Donnelly was involved in an operation which led to the identification of KGB agents in England and Germany. While DDA, he assisted Cliff Stoll – a systems administrator at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory – with an investigation to identify an international computer hacker and KGB recruit as described in Mr. Stoll’s book The Cuckoo's Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage. Mr. Donnelly’s family connections in the Agency extend over four generations – a total of about 150 years of employment. Born in Cleveland, Mr. Donnelly grew up in South Euclid, Ohio where his father was a school principal in nearby Cleveland Heights. While attending Brush High School, he was a drummer in the marching band and orchestra and was recognized as one of the best high jumpers in the Cleveland area. He worked on dairy farms in his teens, one of which was owned by Congresswoman Frances Bolton. He earned a degree in animal husbandry in 1950 from Ohio State University, where he was elected to the senior class honorary Sphinx, and for a time was an Assistant Dean of Men. He served in combat in Korea as a Lieutenant, artillery forward observer, with the 49th Field Artillery Battalion, 7th Infantry Division. At times, he was also a forward observer with Turkish, Colombian, and Ethiopian infantry units. He was awarded the Bronze Star. In 1954, on the GI bill, he earned a master’s degree in political science from the University of Michigan. In retirement, Mr. Donnelly was a gardener and active genealogical researcher, something he became interested in at his grandmother’s knee in Ohio in the 1940s. He belonged to several historical and genealogical societies, and did research on a variety of families, serving as a consultant to friends and neighbors interested in family research. He searched for and found lost cemeteries in the hills of West Virginia, published about them and the families buried there. He is survived by his second wife Peggy Hall Donnelly, who he married in 1983; son John and wife Deborah (Briggs); daughter Elizabeth Jane Leathem and husband Paul, and four grandchildren: William and Erin Donnelly and Jenna and Samantha Leathem. He loved fishing, gardening, and wildlife. In lieu of flowers, please donate to one of his favorite charities the Chesapeake Bay Foundation online at www.cbf.org or by calling 410-268-8816. Interment private.
Services
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Memories
William Franklin Donnelly
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ADD A MEMORYNovember 7, 2017
Peggy - My condolences on your loss. It's amazing how time flies and we lose touch with our good friends but you have always been in my thoughts and always bring a smile to my face. I was happy for you when I learned that you and Bill had married. Bill was a great leader in the organization, and both of you made a great team personally and professionally. Please pass on my condolences to the rest of the family. All the best, Mel Gamble (Herndon, VA)
Bernie Schuchner
October 17, 2017
Peggy and family, we are remembering Bill with great fondness. He was a wonderful boss, but more importantly, he treated people with kindness and friendship. Always a gentleman, his passing is a loss to all who knew him and appreciated all that he did and valued all that he was. May your memories sustain you.
Don Simonds
October 11, 2017
Peggy and Family, my condolences and warmest wishes at this time of your loss. I rank Bill among those managers who proved to be the wisest of counselors and mentors, especially in guiding my personal career.
October 4, 2017
Peggy, just heard about Bill's death. We are so sorry, but are also so grateful for having the privilege of knowing him. Geoff and Cindy O'Connell
Charna Lazar
October 4, 2017
Peggy - Very sorry to learn of Bill's passing. He was one of the good guys.
Mary Fantucchio
October 3, 2017
I'm so sorry for your loss, Peggy. He was a fine man and a wonderful chief, and we all loved working for him. My condolences.
Marjorie
October 3, 2017
Sorry for your loss, may You find comfort knowing that our Heavenly Father is going to remind every detail about him and bring him back again.
Jane Kim-Preston
October 2, 2017
Hi Peggy,
I just found out from my mom and I just wanted to offer you condolences. I am very sorry for your loss.
Georgette Barker
October 2, 2017
Peggy, may heartfelt sympathies for your loss. I always considered Mr. Donnelly a mentor. He was always honest and straight forward and played to my strengths.. opening up opportunites to let me be creative and make a positive difference. He was one of the fairest managers and supported risk taking. It was my honor to have him in my corner when it came to bringing about change.
He made a lasting impression on me. May he rest in peace.
Georgette Summers Barker
AHMED TOURKY
October 2, 2017
I was so sorry to hear of your loss. The thoughts of many are with you at this time of sorrow.
Patricia Stallings
October 1, 2017
Hi Peggy,
Bill and I want to say how terribly sorry we are for your loss. I know you and Mr Donnelly such a magnificent couple! Our prayers are with you always!
Xxoo
Tricia Slavin Stallings
Harriette Rinaldi
September 30, 2017
Peggy: A friend just informed me of your husband's death. Please accept my sincere condolences. Harriette
Barbara S.
September 29, 2017
Peggy, I am so sorry for your loss. Bill's passing is a great loss to many. You were both wonderful mentors to me and instrumental in my development and achievements within the Organization throughout much of my career, both within IMS and later as I moved on to other assignments. The two of you will always hold a special place in my heart. May Bill's memory be eternal. May he rest with the righteous in a place of peace, happiness, and light; where there is no pain, no grief, no sighing, but everlasting life. God bless you.
September 29, 2017
Peggy,
So sorry to learn of Bill's passing. My deepest sympathy goes out to you and your family. Bill was one of our best, and I hope your many wonderful memories will ease your loss. Amy Tozzi
Raymond Fitzgerald
September 28, 2017
I am so sorry to hear of your loss Peggy. My condolences to you and family. Bill ( I still want to say Mr. Donnelly) was such a fine man, and, in 35 years, the best I ever worked for/with. He gave me, and many others, opportunities to reach potential, and was a generous mentor. I will not forget Bill. I send my thoughts, prayers, and best wishes to you. Ray Fitzgerald
Joe Wippl
September 28, 2017
As CTs in the 70s, we had numerous speakers. Bill and Hav Smith were the best. Later, I got to know him a bit. He loved intelligence and he had very good judgement about people. My sympathies are with Peggy and the family.
Ken Johnson
September 28, 2017
It was my privilege and pleasure working for Bill in the late 1970's when he was the acting Chief of Div D. He was a calm, positive, personable professional who guided us well. My condolences to his family.
September 28, 2017
I am very sorry for your loss. I hope that the wonderful promise that God has made of bringing our loved ones back to life will give you comfort and help you through this difficult time.
Timothy Twinam
September 27, 2017
My heartfelt sympathies go out to the Donnelly family. I was honored to have had the privilege to serve under Bill Donnelly in both IMS and OC. He made every person that worked for him feel they played a significant role in the mission.
Vince Sescoe
September 27, 2017
Although I have been retired nearly 20 years, I still have fond memories of being a junior officer when Bill Donnelly was assigned to the Information Management Staff. In due course, I came to refer to him as the "Father of Modern IMS," because his wisdom, professionalism and management style were hallmarks for many who served under him. The lessons I learned as a young officer under Bill Donnelly continue to serve me today as a volunteer. I will never forget his kindness and the positive impact he had on all who served under him. Rest in peace, chief. My condolences to Peggy and the rest of the family.
September 27, 2017
Sorry for the loss of your beloved husband, father and grandfather. May God sustain you at this time of such great loss. BS
Sheldon Seltzer
September 27, 2017
Mr. Donnelly epitomized the term "an officer and a gentleman". I was proud to be associated with him, a man of action and integrity. May he rest in peace. My thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Patricia Stallings
September 27, 2017
Oh boy, so many wonderful memories. I remember jane and i sliding down the stairs and Mr and Mrs Donnelly, saying ok, thats enough, but never getting mad at us crazy kids. Then, taking us for ice cream! I am so blessed and so lucky to have the Donnellys in my life. What a gift! I remember when my husband met Mr Donnelly. And, my husband said "hi Bill, I'm Bill". And Mr Donnelly said "nice to meet you, Bill. I'm Bill" we all laughed. A wonderful Father, husband and friend is Bill Donnelly. I know i and my family will miss him much. Xxooo
Tricia Slavin Stallings
Kathleen Carr
September 27, 2017
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time.