Master and Commander
Posts: 1305
Location: NE Florida | Subject: Sunday Obits
https://www.facebook.com/ussvi.eternalpatrol/
The above link goes to the USSVI (United States Submarine Veterans, Inc.) Facebook page where their members who have gone on “Eternal Patrol” are noted.
I’ll keep my work here going, trying to get others who were not USSVI members. You’re encouraged to look there as well as here! Obviously, there’ll be some I miss and some I duplicate.
DONKUS .. .. .. VENICE, Fla. – John Wallace Donkus, born April 4, 1936, in Lisbon, Maine, passed away peacefully on Sept. 23, 2025, in Venice, Fla.
Graduated from Lisbon High School in 1954, enlisted in the U.S. Navy February 1955. First submarine was the USS Corsair SS435 in February 1956, the USS Piper SS409, then the USS Thomas Edison SS610. After an 82 days submerged patrol and 11 years of submarine service, resigned and went to work as a civilian for the Navy and retired in 1996 with 36 years of service. Went into business for himself as ‘John’s Stump Grinding’, for about eight years.
While wintering in Venice, Fla., he began a lifelong dream of taking flying lessons at Venice Airport and finished up at Carlisle, Pa., Airport … he loved flying with his many friends in both locales.
John is survived by wife, Kathleen Bolze Donkus; son, Chris Donkus of Lisbon, son, Adam Donkus of Boyertown, Pa., son, Chris Golaszewski of Seattle, Wash., and son, Scott Golaszewski of Boiling Springs, Pa.; one sister, Camille Booker of Lisbon; four grandchildren, Evan Donkus of Denver, Colo., Catherine Dana Donkus of Kutztown, Pa., Olivia Donkus of Portland, and Cole Donkus of Kutztown, Pa.
There will be a Celebration of Life at a later date.
TAYLOR .. .. .. TAYLOR, Donald D.– Born on July 20, 1925, in San Jose, CA. A graduate of San Jose High School in 1943, he went on to serve in the US Navy as a submarine radio operator in WWII in the Philippines and Australia. Attended SJSU 1946-1950 where he was a star baseball player alongside his brother Cyril. He received his Master in Education from Stanford University in 1951. This same year, he married his lovely wife Jacqueline May. They were married 52 1/2 years. Don became a Math Teacher at James Lick High where he also coached football and baseball winning 2 CCS Championships. He then became Dean of Students at Samuel Ayer High. In 1967, he became Principal of Overfelt High transforming a turbulent school through perseverance, personal dedication and community involvement. He returned to James Lick as principal and retired from education in 1983. He and his wife Jackie returned to Arnold, CA where they enjoyed a love for the mountains and each other. Jackie preceded Don in death by just two weeks and Don died of a broken heart. He is survived by his sons John, Mark, and Tom; two daughters-in-law Sue and Patrice and 5 grandchildren; nephews Alan, Daniel and Michael. |
Sunday Obits
