Thursday, June 18, 2020
Dr. Donald F. McDonnell’s Story
Dr. Donald Francis McDonnell, 95, of Piscataway, passed away on Friday, April 17, 2020 at
St. Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick. Born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas, Donald attended Rockhurst High School and then pursued his undergraduate degree at Rockhurst College. During World War II, Donald enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1942 and proudly served his country in the Pacific Corridor until he was honorably discharged as Staff Sergeant on July 11, 1946. Dr. McDonnell did not speak much of his military experience but ship manifests have him traveling a couple of times “into dangerous waters.” Perhaps it was this experience that turned him into one of the most gentle and caring men many saw and loved and perhaps, because of this, after the war, he attained his Medical Doctor degree from Creighton University School of Medicine in Nebraska.
While attending Creighton, Donald met the love of his life, Joan Louise Cuba. They were
married at St. Rose of Lima Church in Genoa, Nebraska and then settled in New Brunswick,
New Jersey, where he completed his residency and then became a partner with the medical group of Glasser, Boogdanian and McDonnell. On the home front, Dr. McDonnell and his wife Joan settled down in their family home on Wakefield Lane, where they raised their four children; Leslie, Matthew, John and Daniel, all of whom remained living with him or within a couple of miles from him. Donald and Joan were happily married for 53 years until her passing on February 17, 2002.
Dr. McDonnell received many awards and distinctions during his medical career. He was
appointed Clinical Assistant Professor at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School where he
served for many years. He was unanimously elected an Emeritus Member, by nomination, of the Middlesex County Medical Society and was a lifelong member of the American Medical
Association. Dr. McDonnell was a Charter Diplomate of the American Board of Family
Practice, and Board Certified in Family Practice, proudly maintaining his Board Certification
until his passing. During his career, he was a Senior Attending Staff member in the Department of Family Practice at St. Peter’s Medical Center. He held that position for over 45 years. Until he retired in 1995, to care for his wife, Dr. McDonnell was one of the last Family Physicians in the area to still make house calls and continued to deliver babies.
In addition to his beloved wife, Joan, Dr. McDonnell was predeceased by his parents, James J.
McDonnell and Agnes Gallagher, his brother, James McDonnell and his wife, Shirley and
brothers-in-law, Art Carmona and Chuck Stevinson. He is survived by his children, all of
Piscataway, daughter Leslie Anne, son Matthew and his wife Debra, son John Douglass, and
son Daniel, his wife Jean and her son, Matt with his wife, Erin and their son Jax. He is also
survived by two sisters, Patricia Stevinson of Denver, Colorado and Kathleen Carmona of
Oakland, California.
Since 2002 Dr. McDonnell, lived with daughter Leslie and son John who were his constant companions. His sons, Matthew and Daniel, were always a stone throw away. During the boys’ formative years, the James Bond matinees with his sons, were memorable. A devoted Catholic, Dr. McDonnell was a constant presence at the Sunday Masses at St. Peter’s Church. In his leisure time, Dr. McDonnell traveled the world over first with his wife Joan, and then in the company of his children. A consummate planner, his trips, his daughter Leslie recalls always reaped an abundance of natural and historic sites. In his cruises, he preferred the veranda staterooms so he could sit out and smell the deep ocean with the sun on his face.
Dr. McDonnell loved all people and always saw the best in everyone, everywhere. He also loved the theater and had a wonderful sense of humor. Dr. McDonnell loved the water and regularly went to Mohonk Mountain House where he would sit out in a rocking chair and look at the lake whether it was still frozen or not, wrapped in a blanket always with the sun on his face. He enjoyed any chance he was able to see and hear the ocean and one of his favorites was Gurney’s Montauk with an oceanfront room. In his later years he enjoyed sitting out on the lounges on his personal deck to watch and hear the waves crash on the beach below. The peace this brought to him could be seen by the gracious smile he kept in those moments.
Donald was one of the most soft-spoken, gentle, generous, good hearted true gentlemen left
on Earth. He was respected among his peers and friends. He would always offer to help out and actually meant it. Donald always had his handkerchief ready if you needed it. He will be truly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him and most especially by his dearest friend and confidant, Frank Rubin.
In his final days the staff at St. Peter’s Hospital shared that many staff members still remembered him after all these years and shared their deep respect for such a kind and memorable doctor.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Peter’s Church, St. Peter’s Hospital, Samaritan’s Purse, Doctors without Borders, the American Red Cross, FLAG of Somerset, and the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund in Dr. Donald F. McDonnell’s name.
