Brian Joseph Donnelly

Brian grew up in Youngstown, and attended St. Edward’s and St. Dominic’s schools, and graduated from Ursuline High School in 1955. After high school he attended Youngstown University (now Youngstown State University) where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in English. He then graduated from American University in Washington, D.C. with a law degree.

Brian worked for over fifty years as a lawyer, gaining admission to the Bar in Virginia, Texas and California. He started in private practice, and moved to corporate law at the Acacia Life Insurance Company and at Beneficial Standard Life Insurance. His career continued as General Counsel at Cal Western Life, American General Life, and Blue Cross of California. At Blue Cross, he helped lead the team that led to the creation of the California Endowment, which to this day provides health care to thousands of Californians. Following that, Brian created his own private law practice, and over time, began volunteering as a judge pro tem in Small Claims and Traffic courts in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. He discovered that he truly loved the pro tem work, and enjoyed that for several years, up until very recently.

Brian married Eleanor Wagner in 1963 in Youngstown, Ohio. They were happily married for 53 years, and enjoyed living in Thousand Oaks and Camarillo, California, for the past thirty years. He served as a board member for California Kids, which provided healthcare to uninsured children.

Brian enjoyed music and performing; he applied his strong singing voice to many chorale groups, including the Houston Master Chorale and most recently, the Los Robles Master Chorale, where he sang for many years. He took great joy in his family and delighted in playing with his grandchildren. Brian enjoyed keeping up with Youngstown family and friends via email, and enjoyed a few friendly rivalries over football and baseball. He was a voracious reader of many genres and loved New Yorker and Far Side cartoons. Although very accomplished, he was a humble man who enjoyed and appreciated people. His family will miss his funny anecdotes, advice, and wonderful observations about life, and while he would not want us to point this out, the family is proud to note that he was the first member in his family to receive a professional degree.

Brian was preceded in death by brother James and sister Eileen.

Brian is survived by his spouse Eleanor; son Brian (Cindy) Donnelly and their daughters Clarissa and Mollyann; daughter Lara (Todd Shepherd), and daughter Helen Donnelly; his sister Anita Coughlin, and many nieces and nephews. All will miss him tremendously.

A visitation will be held at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park, 5600 Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village, California, from 4-7:00 pm on Thursday, September 15, 2016. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Saint Jude the Apostle Church, 32032 W. Lindero Canyon, Westlake Village, California at 10:00 am, Friday, September 16, 2016. Burial will follow at the Valley Oaks Memorial Park, to be followed by a reception, location to be announced.

Condolences may be left on Brian Joseph Donnelly’s online guest book at www.piercebrothersvalleyoaks.com

Arrangements under the direction of Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Mortuary, Westlake Village, CA.