Robert (Bob) Leo Donald, 62, a resident of Palo Alto for more than 50 years, lifelong humanitarian and good neighbor, died Oct. 19, 2004. Bob’s positive outlook on life was unwavering, even in failing health. Bob lived with diabetes, pulmonary fibrosis, and cancer of the lung and brain.
Born in El Paso, Texas, Bob attended St. Thomas Aquinas School in Palo Alto, Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose and San Jose State University. He worked at Palo Alto’s CO-OP Grocery Store before starting a long career at the New York Life Insurance Company.
Bob loved traveling, meeting people in other countries, bringing toys to impoverished children and collecting artifacts. With his ready smile and friendly gestures, his lack of foreign language ability didn’t slow him down one bit.
While visiting his brother, Jack, a Jesuit missionary in Honduras, Bob would traverse lagoons and boat up jungle rivers. He would push the canoe through the swamps and sink into the mud up to his waist. He would walk the beaches for hours to the next village.
Bob’s biggest project was outfitting a carpenter shop for the Garifuna youth of Sangrelaya in Honduras. He canvassed his hometown of Palo Alto asking for donated tools. He visited garage sales to pick up any usable items. He got parishioners of St. Thomas Aquinas involved donating saws, hammers, and whatnot. Finally, he got the fruit company to ship the crates to Honduras, where Jack picked them up at the docks.
Bob was always ready to lend a hand when asked, or often when not asked. Bob’s friends and family admired his love of life and his ability to make the best of any situation. When Bob grew ill, we witnessed the depth of his optimism.
Bob is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Cherie Donald of Palo Alto; mother, Elaine Donald; sister, Kathryn Donald; brother, Jack Donald; brother, Tom Donald; brother, Steven; brother, Michael; son, David Donald of Elk Grove; son, John Donald of Menlo Park; son, Robert Donald of Walnut Creek; son, James Donald of San Jose; and three grandchildren.
From the Palo Alto Daily News, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the San Jose Mercury News:
Robert Leo Donald passed away on Tuesday evening, surrounded by his family. Bob was born in El Paso, Texas, but spent most of his life in Palo Alto. Bob’s positive outlook on life was unwavering, even in failing health. Bob lived with diabetes, pulmonary fibrosis, and cancer of the lung and brain.
He is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Cherie, his sons and daughters-in-law David and Janet, John and Elaine, Robert and Laura, James, his grandchildren Nicole, Henry, and Evan, his mother Elaine, his sister Kathryn, his brothers Jack, Tom, Steven, and Michael, and his many nephews and nieces and other relations, each of whom he loved with all his heart. He was preceded in death by his father Donovan, his sister Cheryl, and his brother Jim.
Bob had a kindness and a compassion for others that continues to inspire those who knew him and loved him. He had a significant effect on the lives of countless people. Bob loved to meet new people and hear their stories, and he traveled extensively to many parts of the world. He especially loved to bring smiles to the faces of impoverished children by bringing them toys and taking their pictures.
A graduate of Bellarmine College Preparatory and San Jose State University, Bob worked at the Palo Alto Co-op grocery stores before starting a long and rewarding career at New York Life Insurance Company. Bob’s co-workers and clients are among his numerous friends.
Bob loved his family, as we love him, and we all cherish the time we had together.
Visitation Friday, Oct. 22, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Roller, Hapgood & Tinney, 980 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto. Rosary at 7:30.
Funeral Mass Saturday, Oct. 23, 9:00 a.m., St. Albert the Great, 1095 Channing Ave., Palo Alto. Graveside service following, Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 22555 Cristo Rey Dr., Los Altos. Reception following, home of Bob and Cherie Donald.
The Palo Alto Weekly added some more personal information:
Robert Leo Donald, 62, a resident of Palo Alto for more than 50 years, died Oct. 19.
Born in El Paso, Texas, he attended St. Thomas Aquinas School in Palo Alto, Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose and San Jose State University. He worked at Palo Alto’s CO-OP Grocery Store before starting a long career at the New York Life Insurance Company.
“To him, everyday was a good day,” said his son John Donald. “He greeted every day with a smile.”He loved traveling, meeting people in other countries, bringing toys to impoverished children and collecting artifacts. In addition to Honduras, which he visited frequently, he traveled to many other international destinations.
He had many interests, his son said, including beekeeping and raising birds. He was also a Star Trek fan.
He is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Cherie Donald of Palo Alto; mother, Elaine Donald; sister, Kathryn Donald; brother, Jack Donald; brother, Tom Donald; brother, Steven; brother, Michael; son, David Donald of Elk Grove; son, John Donald of Menlo Park; son, Robert Donald of Walnut Creek; son, James Donald of San Jose; and three grandchildren.
Bob Donald 
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