Denis Peter Donegan passed away March 24, 2018 at the age of 83. Denny was born July 19, 1934, in Brooklyn, NY. His parents were Denis Donegan and Margaret Brady. He was raised on Long Island, where he learned to play golf at Beth Page State Park, and hockey on the frozen Long Island ponds. He grew up watching the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees.
Denny attended Phillips Academy at Andover, Ma., followed by Princeton University, where he played on the club hockey team, once met Albert Einstein and was a graduate of the Class of 1956. Following graduation, he joined the U.S. Air Force as a navigator.
He spent his career in banking, both in Atlanta and in Dalton, but his most cherished accomplishments included the thousands of volunteer hours he donated over decades to many organizations. He worked in the concession stand at Dalton High School football games to benefit the DHS band. He volunteered for Hamilton Hospice, The American Cancer Society, Hamilton Medical Center, the Library Foundation and Cherokee Estates. He donated over 27 gallons of blood to the Red Cross. For many years, he and his wife, Roxana, delivered communion to the homebound. He loved St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
He was an official for the NHL during the years The Flames and Thrashers were located in Atlanta. He was a hockey referee through his 81st year of life and even officiated a game at his 60th high school reunion in Massachusetts. He played golf throughout his life and loved to tell stories of the 20 holes in one his father, brothers and he achieved cumulatively. Denny had three holes-in-one in his life, including one at the Farm on a Thanksgiving morning many years ago.
Denny was predeceased by his beloved brother, Hilary, who died in November of 2017. He is survived by his wife, Roxana, of 53 years. He is also survived by his daughters, one brother, one sister, and their families, including four grandchildren.
A memorial mass will be conducted at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Thursday at 11 a.m., followed by inurnment in the Church Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday at Love Funeral Home from 5-7 p.m.
His family would like to thank his home healthcare nurse, Phil Norman, whose enthusiasm and care brought Denny and Roxana much joy and comfort in his last year of life.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the STAR, Inc. Foundation (www.starct.org), which serves families affected by developmental and intellectual disabilities in Connecticut. Denny’s brother, Hilary, and his family were and are longtime supporters of this organization in honor and support of Hilary’s son, Brian.
Words of comfort may be sent to the family at
www.lovefuneralhomega.com.
Love Funeral Home, Dalton is in charge of arrangements.