David was born May 19, 1934, the son of the late James Arthur Donnelly Sr., and Olive Rosemary (Hand) of Point of Pines Revere, Massachusetts.
David enlisted in the U.S. Army stationed in Germany serving during the Korean War. After serving his country, he began a 40-year career with United Airlines at JFK and Boston's Logan, where he met his wife of 55 years, Jacquelyn.
David and Jackie moved from Huntington Station Long Island to Boxford, Massachusetts in 1971 where they raised their four children. He and Jackie had a large vegetable garden every spring and often took home first place ribbons for tomatoes and zucchini’s at the Topsfield Fair. With a career in the airlines, he took his family on countless trips all over the world. If not listening to a Red Sox ballgame, David enjoyed playing ball with his children. He loved anything sports and loved his New England teams. He was a kind and gentle man with an impeccable work ethic. He made friends everywhere he went whether it be in a line, parking lot or elevator; he struck up conversations with all he came in contact with and was a friend to all he met. He enjoyed his daily local newspaper, the Boston Globe on his kindle, a glass of white wine with dinner, scratch tickets and watching the game---any game.
He leaves behind his sister Sheila (Donnelly) Meaney of Revere, MA., loving father to his four children Sheila (Donnelly) Oliveira and her husband Luiz, John K. Donnelly and wife Denise, Kevin K. Donnelly and wife Michelle, Patrick K. Donnelly and wife Jenny; seven grandchildren; Griffin, Jack, Ronan, James, Caroline, Zachariah and Olivia. David was predeceased by his wife Jacquelyn, brothers James, Edwin and Robert, and sisters Anne Marie and Dorothy.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, October 22, at St. Joseph Husband of Mary Roman Catholic Church, 7260 West Sahara Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada 89117, followed by a military honors ceremony at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1900 Memorial Dr., Boulder City, Nevada 89005. All are welcome to attend to celebrate David’s life. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a local Veteran’s organization.
