Banker moved the chains for Pitt

The first game of the 2000 Pitt football season, Jimbo Lamanna remembers James Donahue having the team’s chain crew show up long before either team had gotten there. Just to get acclimated. Mr. Lamanna has many memories like that from his 29 years working the chains with Mr. Donahue, who died of complications from pneumonia on March 8. He was 80.

“We had to wait for the ushers to get us in there,” Mr. Lamanna said.

“That’s how he did everything. It was top shelf all the way and you just had to have a lot of respect and recognize that you were representing the University of Pittsburgh.

“He was a people person … he was Norm before Norm. When Jimmy walked into a room, everybody loved him, everybody knew him.

“He made time for everybody. He was a special person. He really was.”

Mr. Donahue was born on Nov. 14, 1937, and grew up in Point Breeze. He graduated from Central Catholic in 1955 and went on to run track at Pitt on scholarship, graduating in 1960. Mr. Donahue’s sons also attended Central Catholic. had the heart of a lamb,”

“Pittsburgh lost a little Ms. Donahue said. bit of a treasure,” Central Wanting to be part of Catholic football coach the action helped lead to Terry Totten said. him joining the chain

“[Donahue] was a little crew, leading the group bit quiet, kind of opinionated, for more than 40 years. but when you got to “When he had to go sit know him it was all in the stands and watch a warmth and kindness game, he just found that and generosity.” so boring,” Ms. Donahue

Mr. Donahue met his said. “So somebody who wife, Nancy, at Pitt. The was working the chain pair were married for 56 crew said ‘Jimmy, would years and lived in Forest you like to do this?’ And Hills. he said ‘Wow.’ Just being

Mr. Donahue loved the around that atmosphere, Jersey Shore and the family he loved it.” would vacation there Brother Mark Lowery, in the summer, said his a classmate of Mr. daughter, D e b b i eDonahue’s. at Central Donahue. He was an Catholic, remembered usher for St. Paul’s Cathed his kindness most of all. r a l in Oakland and “He was a businesslike served on the board of directors man, and that helped for the Pittsburgh him, but he was also a Athletic Association. very social, very friendly

He was Pittsburgh guy, involved in so many through and through, Ms. activities,” Mr. Lowery Donahue said, wanting to said. help others when he became In addition to Ms. vice president of Donahue of Fox Chapel, Mellon Bank, which Mr. Donahue is survived later became Citizens by another daughter Bank. Anne McCourt of Mt.

Mr. Donahue had begun Lebanon; two sons, Michael as a trainee at Mellon Donahue of Baton Bank out of college Rouge, La., and Mark and worked his way up Donahue of San Francisco; the ladder, retiring in and two brothers, the early 2000s. Edward of Phoenix

Despite a college Eugene of Atlanta. friend nicknaming him Funeral services were “The G r u m p , ” M r . held Monday. Arrangements Donahue often displayed were by John A. his softer side, Ms. Freyvogel Sons Inc. Donahue said.

“They might have called him that, but he