Matthew Donahue: 1936 – 2012 (Prospect Street)

Georgetown commercial real estate owner and executive Matthew Donahue died Jan. 19. The outgoing Donahue was known for his generous and sometimes quarrelsome nature. As easily as he might open his home on the 3600 block of Prospect Street to friends and family, he would hang a banner over his backyard fence that overlooks the Exxon gas station on Canal Road that read “Remember the Valdez.” From his retail space on Wisconsin Avenue, he once held production work of a Disney movie with a poster that read “Disney Family Values?” to protest its film about priests. Donahue was born and grew up in Georgetown close to his last residence and had been a student at Holy Trinity Elementary School and Georgetown University. He was the brother of Claire Farquhar, Mollie Dodd, both of the District, William Donahue of Bethesda and the late Michael Donahue. He is survived by 10 nieces and nephews, as well as 15 great-nieces and nephews. (Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Trinity Living Wages care of Holy Trinity Catholic Church.) To read an interview about Donahue’s life, visit www.CAGtown.org/OralHistory