John T. "Tim" Donnellan Sr.

John Timothy “Tim” Donnellan, 84, passed away peacefully at St. Leonard’s community in Centerville, Ohio. His life was marked by service to his country, community, and family.

A graduate of Springfield Catholic Central High School, Tim began his career working at Riverdale Dairy, memories that he cherished for his entire life. Tim served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1969, including a tour with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam from May 1967 to May 1968, encompassing the Tet Offensive. He served in the Ohio Army National Guard from 1969 to 1995, retiring as a colonel. He spent four years as commandant of the Ohio Military Academy and graduated from the U.S. Army War College in 1988.

For more than 38 years, Tim dedicated his civilian career to fighting poverty as president and CEO of the Community Action Partnership of the Greater Dayton Area from 1978 to 2017. He served 13 years on the National Community Action Partnership board, including four as chair. His honors included the 2014 Lyndon Baines Johnson Human Service Award and the 2009 Spirit of Community Action Award.

An avid runner, Tim completed the Marine Corps Marathon for 16 consecutive years. He is preceded in death by his sister Kathleen Donnellan. He is survived by his longtime partner, Jean Farkas; brothers Mike Donnellan (Mindy) and Patrick Donnellan (Cherie); Brennan Donnellan (Jennifer), John Timothy Donnellan Jr. (Amy), and Justin Donnellan (Toya); grandchildren Evan, Ian, Emma, Jacob, Jonai, Emily and Ethan; and his beloved collie, Sunshine.

Tim found great joy in music with the opera Porgy and Bess being among his favorites, and he was a passionate fan of tenor Mario Lanza. He loved convertibles and the Big Red Machine. Tim was always ready with a joke and a laugh.

A private service will be held for family. His legacy lives on in his family and the communities he served.

High Flight

BY JOHN GILLESPIE MAGEE JR

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirthdd

of sun-split clouds,-and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of-wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,

I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air ....

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark, or even eagle flew-

And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

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