DONAHAY, DAVID C., 58, of Coventry, RI, died Friday afternoon, March 6, 2020, after an accident at home. He had worked for National Grid for 32 years, the last 20 of which were spent as a substation supervisor.
He will be best remembered for his kind, gentle nature, and quirky sense of humor. He loved to spend warm, sunny days on his boat and was always ready to make you his fishing buddy. An avid sports fan, he watched whatever New England team was in season and probably has a March Madness bracket tucked away somewhere. He found joy in taking his sons, Brian and Eric, out for weekend dinners and fishing trips. He and his wife, Barbara, enjoyed live concerts, football games, and good meals together. He’d planned to retire soon and they were going to spend a couple of years on the road, seeing the country and enjoying a quiet life in one another’s company.
Born on July 24, 1961 to William H. Donahay of Warwick, and the late Marylou (O’Connor) Donahay, he was raised in Warwick, RI, where he graduated Pilgrim High School (Class of 1979) and later graduated from New England Institute of Technology. He was lucky to be a part of a lifelong group of tight knit friends, the Moes.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara, sons Brian and Eric, Brian’s longtime partner Lisa, stepdaughter Jessica and her husband Todd, as well as his sisters Holly Kirby of Port Charlotte, FL, Joy Lonardo of Port Charlotte, FL, brother Scott Donahay of Warwick, father William Donahay of Warwick, five nieces, Amanda Campbell, Jules Allen, Jillian Graham, Elizabeth Lonardo, Haley Donahay, and nephews Tyler Donahay and Dillon Donahay, and four grandchildren, Maxwell, Andy, Liam, and Charlotte. He was preceded by his sister Tammy Donahay.
Dave wanted to be cremated and in accordance with his wishes, part of his remains will be sent to be integrated with a coral reef and in the late spring, when the weather is perfect for fishing, those closest to him will gather at a jetty near his childhood home to scatter his ashes over Narragansett Bay, so he can finally find all of the fish he could never quite catch.
A wake celebrating his life will be held on Tuesday, March 10 from 5pm to 8pm at Iannotti Funeral Home at Maple Root, 2000 Nooseneck Hill Rd. (Route 3) in Coventry. In lieu of flowers, Dave would have been happy for you to make a donation to Save the Bay (https://www.savebay.org/get-involved/donate/), DEBRA of America (https://www.debra.org/donate), or The Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (https://rispca.com/). Most importantly go enjoy a live music show, take that trip, share a meal with your friends, and live your life to the fullest. Dave’s family would like to thank the doctors and especially the nursing staff of the Trauma Intensive Care Unit at Rhode Island Hospital for the impeccable care they provided while simultaneously caring for his family’s well-being and preserving his dignity.
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