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Online Obituaries for the Indianapolis IN Area

Mr. James Hugh Donahoe

December 30, 1925 - April 07, 2009

James Hugh Donahoe, 83, of Indianapolis passed from this earth and on to that great Dixieland Jazz Concert in the sky on April 7, 2009. He was born in Dobbs Ferry, New York, to James Alvin and Beatrice Fontaine (Glassford) Donahoe on December 30, 1925.

Known as “Hugh” to his family and “Jim” to his friends, Jim was also known as “Dad” to his nine children, one of whom, Steven, preceded him in death. The surviving children are Art (Paula) and their daughter Megan of Manteo, North Carolina; Mike of Lebanon, Indiana, and his two daughters, Colleen and Christine; Pete of Indianapolis, and his children Hannah and Steve; Paul of Clearwater, Florida; Christine Major Hicks (Henry) and their children Jayne and Sam Major and Jessie Hicks, of Tampa, Florida; Brian (Chaizu) of Tyva, Russia, and their son Dalai; David (Tina) of Indianapolis, and their daughters Amanda and MariAnne; and Lyn of Tampa, Florida. Jim’s first wife and mother of those nine children, Rosamond Mary (Long) Donahoe, survives him in Clearwater, Florida.

Jim is also survived by his sister Joan M. Reuss of Bethesda, Maryland, and brothers John E. (“Jack”) Donahoe of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Jerome L. (“Jerry”) Donahoe of Largo, Florida.

Jim graduated from LaSalle High School in Providence, RI, in 1943. He enlisted in the Navy and was sent to Holy Cross College, in Worcester, MA, for a two year officer training program (the Navy V-12 program). He was commissioned in 1945 and joined the Pacific Fleet. He served aboard an LST (landing ship, tank) rising to the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade.

Family members recall with amusement the story of Jim and a friend, shortly after the end of hostilities in the Pacific, commandeering a U.S. military jeep and driving it to the peak of Mount Fujiyama near Tokyo, and then abandoning it after it broke down on the way down.

Jim received his honorable discharge in 1946 and returned to Holy Cross to complete his bachelor’s degree in economics with a minor philosophy, which he received in 1948. His senior paper was a study of the effectiveness of the Marshall Plan in revitalizing the economies of Europe following World War II.

He worked as an industrial engineer at Diamond Chain Company for twenty-five years, retiring in 1989, and taught courses related to industrial engineering at the old IUPUI building across from the State Fairgrounds.

Jim was a true Dixieland Jazz enthusiast. He was active in the Indianapolis Jazz Club, and served as its president. He was an intellectual at heart. In addition to Dixieland Jazz, his lifelong passions included economics, the history and origins of Christianity, and the history of the early civilizations of the Middle East and Central Asia. Following his retirement from Diamond Chain, Jim spent most of his time reading, writing, ruminating, and discussing these subjects.

Jim wrote two unpublished manuscripts in his life, the first on personal budgeting which was titled Dollars and Sense, and the second on the origins of Christianity, which he called Some Controversial Comments on Some Points of Christian Faith.

Jim is lovingly remembered by his family and friends.

Services will be held Saturday April 11, 2009 at Noon at the Crown Hill Funeral Home Chapel with calling from 10:30 A. M. until the time of service, with burial at Crown Hill Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor's choice, the Indianapolis Jazz Club, or St. Vincent’s Hospice.