Dr. Ned Donahoe, 85, of 839 Wabasha Lane, St. Charles, MN passed away on Monday, March 6, 2000 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN. Born Edward Miller Donahoe, on August 20, 1914, in Wilmington, Illinois, the son of Matthew and Zola (Miller) Donahoe, he graduated from Illinois College, Jacksonville, Illinois in 1936, where he remained as associate professor of drama until 1940. In June 1940, he married Helen Esther Marsh, daughter of Dr. & Mrs. T. Harley Marsh, of Moline, Illinois.
With the coming of World War II, he worked as a supervisor in war industry at J. I. Case, Co. in Rock Island, Illinois building aircraft components. During this time he was also Production Manager for Radio Station WHBF in Rock Island. With the end of the war, he continued his graduate education, receiving his MA degree in Theater Arts from the University of Wisconsin in 1946 and his Ph.D in 1952 from the University of Illinois. He received additional professional training at Goodman Theatre, Chicago Art Institute; the Utah Hagen Studio in New York City; and from Helen Brown Reid in Chicago and Sage Fuller-Flores at Madison, WI.Subsequent theater and academic positions included the University of Wisconsin, Bennington College, Bennington, VT; Purdue University, San Francisco State University, and Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa. He and his wife were active in the Civil Rights movement, working for voting rights and desegregation in Memphis, TN while teaching theater arts at Moline College there.
After the death of his wife in October 1985, Dr. Donahoe moved to Minnesota to be with his family. There he led reading interaction groups at Madonna Towers and Charter House, both in Rochester, and the Whitewater Healthcare Center in St. Charles. Together with his son, the Rev. Scott Donahoe, he directed 1-3 act plays at the Blue Moon Coffee House and Gladiola Days in St. Charles.
Dr. Donahoe is survived by a daughter, Nan Elizabeth Donahoe (husband Roy) Ramirez, of Houston, Texas, a daughter-in-law, Kathy Donahoe of St. Charles, three grandchildren, Patrick, Rachel, and Elija; and one great-granddaughter, Megan Testerman. He was preceded in death by his wife, Esther and son, Rev. Scott Donahoe of Rochester.
A memorial service was held March 17th at Hoff Funeral Homes, St. Charles Chapel, St. Charles, MN with Rev. Jeff Forbes officiating.