John Francis Donahue, Jr.

John Donahue, of Chicago, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday 4 October 2017. He was born on 10 June 1964 at Boulder Colorado. He leaves his grieving father John Sr., brother Jeffrey, and sisters Katherine, Jennifer, Karen and Victoria, and his significant other Lauren, best friend Judy and beloved dog Saro. He was pre-deceased by his mother Jo-Ann and older brother Michael.

John grew up in an Air Force family and lived in many locations around the country including Mississippi, Nebraska, Hawaii and California. He learned about other people and how they lived and was a compassionate listener and had a willingness to help those in need.

John was known for his “can do” attitude and his ability to tackle any project big or small. He found his niche as a Set Dresser for television and film production. His keen power of observation enabled him to spot any mistake in a stage setting and his tenacity in jumping in to fix it built a strong reputation for professionalism. One of his favorite stories involved a production by Spike Lee where John was part of the stage crew. When Mr. Lee was not satisfied with the set appearance he would call out on the public address “Where is my man John?”.

John had many friends who loved to be around him because of his infectious good humor and ability to give and take a good joke. He livened up any gathering and was always at the center putting on a show. People across the country and around the world looked forward to receiving his Christmas card every year.

Memorial gatherings will be conducted in Chicago and San Rafael, California, where he will be interred at the Mt. Tamalpais Cemetery with his mother and brother.