John Charles McDonnell

He was born on January 31, 1926, in Pittsburgh, PA. John served in the U.S. Navy for 32 years. During his time in the Navy, he attended Cornell and Dartmouth, as well as post-graduate school for communication. He attended the Naval War College twice. During his time in the Navy, he was Commander or Executive Commander on the U.S.S. Jenks, U.S.S. Leary, U.S.S. Zellars, U.S.S. Albatross, U.S.S. Grackle, U.S.S. Waller, U.S.S. North Hampton, U.S.S. Worchester, and U.S.S. Salem. He was part of the staff for Cruiser Division Four and on staff of Commander Mine Force Pacific. He was Commander in Chief European Command in Paris, France. He worked in the Pentagon in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He was on Staff of Command, US Naval Force, during the Vietnam War. He was Commander of Fleet Training and Underway Training Center for 3 years in Norfolk, Virginia. He was commander of USS Waller during the Cuban Missile Crisis, which was off the coast of Cuba searching for Soviet Submarines. He was Assistant Administrator of Operations and the Chief of Staff in New Orleans, LA, from which he retired from the Navy. After retirement from the Navy, he was Safety Director at Equitable Shipyards in the New Orleans area.

John was a social, active man who was deeply involved in Kiwanis for 35 years, post retirement. He also volunteered with Meals on Wheels for 25 years, and was a member of the Masonic Grand Lodge of the Commonwealth of Virginia for over 50 years. His family and friends will always remember him as an accomplished, determined, and giving person. He wanted to be remembered as a good man and fine Naval Officer.

John is survived by his daughter and son in law, Alice “Kim” and BJ Ueding, of Nokomis, FL; his grandchildren and step grandchildren, Melissa Lynn and Josh Forgione, of Gainesville, FL; John McDonnell Lynn, of Gainesville, FL; Jessica Renee Lynn, of Nokomis, FL; Brittany Anne Lynn, of Nokomis, FL; Colleen Marie and Bill Uva, of Broadway, Virginia, and Christopher M. Ueding, of Gainesville, FL. He is preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Morris McDonnell, of Cape Coral, FL; his son, Robert Morris McDonnell, of Orlando, FL; his sisters Alice Katherine McDonnell and Margaret McDonnell Kalback, of Pittsburg, PA.

Family and friends are invited to a visitation at Coral Ridge Funeral Home & Cemetery, 1630 SW Pine Island Road, Cape Coral, Florida 33991 on Saturday, April 4, 2015 from 1PM – 2PM with a Memorial Service beginning at 2 PM. Inurnment with military honors to follow. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.coralridgefuneralhome.com