Hal Donnelly, 88, of Streetsboro, Ohio passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family on May 11th at Akron General Hospital.
Born on July 25, 1937 in Burlington, Vermont. Hal was the only son of Harold and Ruth Donnelly. He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters Nancy and Leah. He is survived by his sister Valerie. He grew up in the Suburbs of Boston (Brockton and Arlington) and graduated High School from Phillips Academy in Andover, MA before earning a B.A. at Springfield College and a Master’s Degree in English at Trinity College in Hartford, CT.
Hal was a gregarious person who loved to talk and tell stories. As a young boy raised in the midst of WWII, Hal gravitated to reading in his early life. He was fascinated by the Dave Dawson war adventure series, which started a lifelong love of literature including the classics and all things Shakespeare.
Meanwhile Hal also grew in physical stature, growing to over six feet tall as a sixth grader. Eventually he stood at 6’4″ and exceeded 250 pounds. He used his size and strength throughout his life as he passionately enjoyed playing competitive sports: football, basketball, baseball, tennis, golf and water skiing, with football being his favorite. After graduating college, he played defensive line on a semi pro basis in the Boston area and played for the New York Titans (later the Jets) in the old AFL before the NFL merger. As he aged and lost mobility, he continued to enjoy watching sports on television and rooting for his beloved childhood teams, especially the Boston Bruins, all of Cleveland’s pro sports teams, the OSU Buckeyes and the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team.
While serving as a Graduate Assistant football coach at the University of New Hampshire, Hal attended a powder puff football game and was taken by the beautiful quarterback of the girl’s team who could throw a 35 yd pass in a tight spiral. He pursued her for a date and eventually married Susan “Sue” Bragg Donnelly.
Hal combined his passions for literature and sports into a long career of teaching and coaching. He taught English for a few years at Mount Hermon School in Northfield, MA, followed by three years at Trinity College in Hartford, CT and then moved to Hudson, Ohio to coach, teach and mentor students at Western Reserve Academy (WRA). Although planning to stay only two years, Hal and Sue put down roots and remained for 43 years. They raised five children and have 13 grandchildren.
Hal shared his passion for literature and writing with three generations of academy students at WRA. He also served as the head of the social committee and mentored many foreign students, particularly ones from England and Korea. After enjoying a sabbatical year studying at the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-Upon-Avon in England in 1979, Hal began taking students and their parents on trips to the UK and France. He was known as a skilled coach and wise advisor. He worked many summers teaching and overseeing the curriculum of a federally funded program called Upward Bound which brought disadvantaged students with academic potential from Cleveland and Akron and gave them enhanced educational opportunities. Later, Hal, Sue and many of their children spent their summers running the Hudson Day Camp, teaching local kids to swim, play tennis and develop within a different environment than school. He also was the social director of the Encore music program for music prodigies who came to the WRA campus during summers.
Upon retiring from WRA he served as a founding member of the teaching faculty of Eukarya Christian Academy in Stephens City, VA, teaching two of his grandsons English and History via distance learning.
Hal was baptized as a young adult in Boston. He attended the First Congregational Church in Hudson during the 1970s and early ’80s and served as a youth Sunday school teacher and as a Deacon. Later, he went through a period of spiritual questioning and discouragement, but he eventually reestablished a strong faith in Christ. He and Sue attended Parkside Church in Aurora, OH and enjoyed the preaching of Alistair Begg in his later years. Even when he had difficulty getting around, he found ways to continue having an impact for Christ. When his children and grandchildren began going on short term missions trips to Uganda, Hal was a supporter of the ministry efforts there, partnering with ministries and schools to lift up underprivileged children in that country.
Hal was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Sue Bragg Donnelly, and by his children and grandchildren:
— Captain Jim Donnelly, USN Ret. and Patricia “CiCi” Donnelly of Hollywood, Maryland and their children: Kate, Colin, Taylor and Jack
— LT Steve Donnelly, USN Ret. of Streetsboro, Ohio, and his children: Stephen Jr., Abby, Nick, and Natalie (preceded in death by his wife, Pamela)
— Dan Donnelly, and Donna Donnelly of Winchester, Virginia and their children: Nolan and Owen
— Sean Donnelly and Dr. Amanda Donnelly of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio and their children: Bridget, Audrey and Hope
— Amy Donnelly of Stephens City, Virginia