DONAL HEGARTY 1938–2021

Donal (née Daniel) Hegarty, 82, passed away on February 25 surrounded by his loving family.

The son of Irish parents who immigrated to New York, Donal was born in Manhattan and grew up in the Bronx. He attended St. Anselm’s School through eighth grade and graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School in 1956. That summer, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and completed basic training at Parris Island in South Carolina. He was honorably discharged in 1962. Donal studied at the New York Institute of Technology, and for most of his career he was a lieutenant with the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority in New York City.

In 1970, Donal married his wife of 50 years, Mary, and they went on to have four daughters, whom they raised on Long Island. He and Mary moved to Santa Fe from Florida in 2005. In addition to Mary, Donal is survived by his daughters, Kerry, Amy (Steven Horak), Jody Durham, and Elizabeth (Daniel Waingarten); his grandsons, Pierce Fennen and Eamon Fennen; his older brother, Patrick; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Patrick; mother, Mary; and younger brother, Timothy. On March 8, he was laid to rest at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.

Donal was known for his adorable smile and baby blue eyes, and he’s forever loved and appreciated for his selflessness, hard work, and sacrifices as well as his compassion and brilliant wit. He loved music and classic films, and his daughters especially loved when he would dance around the house to Fred Astaire tunes and sing along, with his beautiful voice, to songs from the 1950s and ’60s in the car. He was a loyal Jets fan, and his daughters were thrilled when he would take them to the team’s practices and games.

Donal is greatly missed, and he’s forever in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.