Obituary for Jack Di Donato
GIACOMO “JACK” A. Di DONATO, 83
WELLSVILLE - G. Jack A. Di Donato, 83, of Wellsville, a native of Ridgeway, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully Wednesday evening, March 6, 2024, at the Calcutta Health Care Center. He is the youngest son of Pio J. and Mary Mucci Di Donato having two older brothers, Gabriel and Alfred, who are deceased. Upon graduations from St. Leo Magnus High School, he entered Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering. He furthered his education through studies at the University of Maryland and the Universita di Pisa, Pisa Italy, having earned a Certificate of Completion.
Jack served his country from 1962-1968 as a member of the U.S. Army. Jack also served in Company C, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania National Guard for two years. He attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant and served as a member of the Southern European Task Force in Italy and Germany. While in Italy, Jack had the opportunity to have an audience with Pope Paul the Sixth and receive a Papal Blessing, truly a highlight of his military tour.
His membership in the Order of the Knights of Columbus dates back to 1968 when he joined the Knights of Columbus in Connellsville, Pennsylvania where he received his first three degrees. He is a member of the Wellsville Council #507 having served as Grand Knight from 1986-1988 and again in 2005 for many years. He was selected Knight of the Year by his Council in 1990. From 2001-2003, he was selected by Ohio State Deputy, John O. Welch, to serve as the State Facility Director. He has served as President of the Columbiana County Chapter of the Knights of Columbus.
In 1992, he was appointed Master of Ohio District 2, encompassing the Dioceses of Columbus and Steubenville, in addition to several Assemblies in the Youngstown Diocese. In 1994, Master Di Donato was appointed the First Master of the Northern Ohio District which was comprised of the Youngstown, Cleveland, and Toledo dioceses. In 1997, he was named the Northern Ohio District Exemplification Class Honoree. Master Di Donato has also served as the President of the Ohio Masters Association, which encompasses all Masters and former Masters of the State of Ohio.
Jack was a member of Holy Trinity Parish where he was active in Parish Life. He has served as Usher, Server, Lector, and on Parish Council. He served as Co-Chairman of the Parish Organ Committee which raised $77,000 for a new church organ.
Since leaving the military, Jack has worked in the Engineering Department of American Bridge Co., a division of U.S. Steel, and Anchor Hocking Glass Corporation. He has the engineering distinction of working on the longest steel suspension bridge in the world, the Verrazzano’s Narrows Bridge in New York City. In recent years, he has been the manufacturing manager of the former Taylor Smith and Taylor Plant in Chester, and the manufacturing manager of New Castle Refractories Division of the Dixon Ticonderoga Corporation. He is a senior member of both the American and Canadian Ceramic Societies and the American Institute of Industrial Engineers and is past president of the American Statistical Society. His is a 50-year member of the American Legion and a member of Post #736 in Glenmoor. Jack loved ballroom dancing and enjoyed many sports such as basketball, baseball, golf, and horseshoes. Jack also worked on many projects such as charities for the poor and displaced persons as well as the Columbiana County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
Jack married Beatrice C. Drummond on September 17, 1966 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in New Brighton, PA. Beatrice passed away in 1999. Jack and Beatrice have a son, Jack and his wife Stephanie, along with three grandchildren, Gianna DiDonato, Alexis Hill and Cassaundra Covey and two great-grandsons James Hazenstab IV and Jaxon Salvatore. There are also several nieces and nephews surviving.
Family and friends may visit Tuesday evening, April 2nd, at the Dawson Funeral Home where the family will be present from 4 to 7 p.m. Fr. Leo Wehrlin will conduct a Mass of Christian Burial Wednesday, April 3rd, at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Trinity Parish. Burial will be at Columbiana County Memorial Park.
Following the service, family and friends will gather at the Dawson Family Center for fellowship.
WELLSVILLE - G. Jack A. Di Donato, 83, of Wellsville, a native of Ridgeway, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully Wednesday evening, March 6, 2024, at the Calcutta Health Care Center. He is the youngest son of Pio J. and Mary Mucci Di Donato having two older brothers, Gabriel and Alfred, who are deceased. Upon graduations from St. Leo Magnus High School, he entered Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering. He furthered his education through studies at the University of Maryland and the Universita di Pisa, Pisa Italy, having earned a Certificate of Completion.
Jack served his country from 1962-1968 as a member of the U.S. Army. Jack also served in Company C, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania National Guard for two years. He attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant and served as a member of the Southern European Task Force in Italy and Germany. While in Italy, Jack had the opportunity to have an audience with Pope Paul the Sixth and receive a Papal Blessing, truly a highlight of his military tour.
His membership in the Order of the Knights of Columbus dates back to 1968 when he joined the Knights of Columbus in Connellsville, Pennsylvania where he received his first three degrees. He is a member of the Wellsville Council #507 having served as Grand Knight from 1986-1988 and again in 2005 for many years. He was selected Knight of the Year by his Council in 1990. From 2001-2003, he was selected by Ohio State Deputy, John O. Welch, to serve as the State Facility Director. He has served as President of the Columbiana County Chapter of the Knights of Columbus.
In 1992, he was appointed Master of Ohio District 2, encompassing the Dioceses of Columbus and Steubenville, in addition to several Assemblies in the Youngstown Diocese. In 1994, Master Di Donato was appointed the First Master of the Northern Ohio District which was comprised of the Youngstown, Cleveland, and Toledo dioceses. In 1997, he was named the Northern Ohio District Exemplification Class Honoree. Master Di Donato has also served as the President of the Ohio Masters Association, which encompasses all Masters and former Masters of the State of Ohio.
Jack was a member of Holy Trinity Parish where he was active in Parish Life. He has served as Usher, Server, Lector, and on Parish Council. He served as Co-Chairman of the Parish Organ Committee which raised $77,000 for a new church organ.
Since leaving the military, Jack has worked in the Engineering Department of American Bridge Co., a division of U.S. Steel, and Anchor Hocking Glass Corporation. He has the engineering distinction of working on the longest steel suspension bridge in the world, the Verrazzano’s Narrows Bridge in New York City. In recent years, he has been the manufacturing manager of the former Taylor Smith and Taylor Plant in Chester, and the manufacturing manager of New Castle Refractories Division of the Dixon Ticonderoga Corporation. He is a senior member of both the American and Canadian Ceramic Societies and the American Institute of Industrial Engineers and is past president of the American Statistical Society. His is a 50-year member of the American Legion and a member of Post #736 in Glenmoor. Jack loved ballroom dancing and enjoyed many sports such as basketball, baseball, golf, and horseshoes. Jack also worked on many projects such as charities for the poor and displaced persons as well as the Columbiana County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
Jack married Beatrice C. Drummond on September 17, 1966 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in New Brighton, PA. Beatrice passed away in 1999. Jack and Beatrice have a son, Jack and his wife Stephanie, along with three grandchildren, Gianna DiDonato, Alexis Hill and Cassaundra Covey and two great-grandsons James Hazenstab IV and Jaxon Salvatore. There are also several nieces and nephews surviving.
Family and friends may visit Tuesday evening, April 2nd, at the Dawson Funeral Home where the family will be present from 4 to 7 p.m. Fr. Leo Wehrlin will conduct a Mass of Christian Burial Wednesday, April 3rd, at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Trinity Parish. Burial will be at Columbiana County Memorial Park.
Following the service, family and friends will gather at the Dawson Family Center for fellowship.