Josephine A. Donlon
Josephine A. Donlon, born April 3, 1921, in New York City, died Sept. 18, 2010. She is survived by her husband, William J. Donlon and children; William, Greg and DruAnn. Daughter, Michele predeceased her.
Jo was a retired diagnostic educator and artist. She graduated with an RN degree from Englewood Hospital in New Jersey, BA from Colorado College and Master’s Degree in Education (II). She spent her life as a Pediatric Psychologist, specializing in diagnostic evaluation, counseling and treatment. Her research, a lifelong passion, involved genetic endocrine diseases of the pancreas and thyroid. She started her career first at the New York Psychiatric Institute, then Colorado College, where she met and married Bill. Following Colorado College, she worked for Colorado Psychiatric Institute, and finished her career as a diagnostic educator in Schaumburg, IL. Though she retired in 1985, she never stopped learning. There never was a problem she thought she could not solve, she was fearless in probing doctors, experts and others with pertinent questions. She would never take no for an answer and if anyone ever told your “you would not understand” she would tell them to explain it and would not stop until satisfied.
After retiring in 1985, she and Bill built their first retirement home on Pine Island. Finding Pine Island a wonderful place to live, they built their dream retirement home and became permanent residents in 1987. Naturally, the Florida homes, as well as some of their other homes, were designed and the building supervised, by Jo.
Florida was a wonderful place. There she played golf, went fishing in the Gulf, and had many wonderful travel adventures. In addition to all of the Florida activities, Jo started a second career, that being an artist. Not being satisfied with just painting, she studied ceramics, pottery and designed lead glass. She loved her family and always placed them first in everything, school activities, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, travel, adventures.
She and Bill travelled the world together for 65 years, they faced and together solved every problem, she will be missed.
A funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 29, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church, 12175 Stringfellow Road, Bokeelia.