Elmer Donnelly

Elmer Charles Donnelly was born in Quincy, Massachusetts August 5, 1924. He passed peacefully from this life on September 22, 2014, at home in Oldsmar, Florida.Elmer was proud of his Irish and Yankee Heritage. His mother was Eva G. Morrison and his father was Hugh Francis Donnelly. He was named after his maternal grandfather, Elmer Ellsworth Morrison, who was named for Elmer Ellsworth, the first Yankee soldier to be killed by Southerners in the Civil War.Elmer enjoyed an active childhood in the Quincy area, playing baseball, football, hockey and sailing at the local Yacht Club. Elmer grew up playing tennis on his Grandfather Morrison's grass tennis courts, in Rockland, MA. He was a lifelong Boston Red Sox and Notre Dame football fan. He graduated from Quincy High School in 1943.Elmer took advantage of a scholarship and training opportunity at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point New York in 1943. He was proud of earning the title of Regimental Featherweight Boxing Champion! Elmer served aboard American Liberty and Victory ships as a cadet-midshipman and Licensed Deck Officer, during WWII. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for "heroism beyond the call of duty" when his ship came under attack in the port of Bone, Algeria. Following the war, he continued to sail to many parts of the world, rising to the highest rank in the Merchant Marine, Master Mariner.Elmer completed his formal education at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in 1951. He married Phyllis Jeanette Acker in 1952, worked in New York City for several years with American Export Lines, then continued with the federal government, in Washington, DC. Elmer worked tirelessly as an ocean transportation manager for his entire career. Elmer and Phyllis maintained their family home in Oxon Hill, MD, where their oldest son, Dave currently resides.Elmer's love of travel led him to take an assignment in 1970-1975 and again 1980- 1985 in Europe. He spent nine years in Italy, with the final year in Bremerhaven, Germany. His worldwide travels inspired his family with broad cultural understanding and appreciation for all people of the world. His family is very grateful for the opportunity to live in Italy, and travel about Europe, Turkey and Tunisia. In retirement, he and Phyllis moved to Oldsmar, Florida, near his sister, Anne and brother -in-law Nicholas Lombardi. He became an avid golfer for over 15 years. There, he regularly attended Mass at All Saints Catholic Church in Clearwater, Florida.Elmer was a very loving family man, known for his patience, optimism, strength, athletic ability, wit and sense of adventure. Whenever anyone made a suggestion for an outing his response was, "Let's go!" His last great trip was made June 12, 2012 Honor Flight to "my memorial", the WWII Memorial on the Mall in Washington, DC.Elmer was preceded in death by his brother Hugh Francis Donnelly, Jr. in 1972. He is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Phyllis Acker Donnelly, of Oldsmar, FL; sister, Anne Donnelly Lombardi of Beverly, MA; son, David Ward Donnelly, of Ft. Washington, MD; daughter Nancy Anne Donnelly, (Mark Lewis) of Clearwater, FL; son, Timothy Hugh Donnelly (Tina) of Shadyside, MD; as well as grandchildren Steven Donnelly Lewis, Jessalyn Donnelly Hadfield, Ryan Donnelly Lewis, Shannon Nicole Donnelly and Hugh Edward Donnelly; several cousins, nieces and nephews, and grand-nieces and nephews.Visitation and Catholic Funeral Services will be held Monday, October 6, 2014 at Lee Funeral Home, Clinton. He will then join his old friend John (Jack) Lonigan at his final resting place, Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Cheltenham, MD.Donations may be made to the United States Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Foundation, P.O. Box 222011, Great Neck, NY 11022. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Elmer Donnelly please visit our Sympathy Store.