Joseph A. Donohoe V
Joseph A. Donohoe V was born to Joseph A. Donohoe IV and Yvonne Dibblee Donohoe on 14 February 1941, the oldest of 4 children. He was a 7th generation Californian on his mother’s side, 6th generation on his father’s. Joe lived his life with passion, kindness and elegance.
As a child of a US Foreign Service diplomat, Joe and his siblings grew up mostly overseas. The first assignment was Kabul, Afghanistan, followed by time in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The third, final and longest tour was in Ankara, Turkey where Joe went to high school. Over the years, Joe kept in touch with some of his fellow 1960 grads from Ankara High School. In the summer of 2010, weak from chemotherapy, he attended a small Ankara reunion in Dallas, Texas. Four of his classmates were there and he truly enjoyed spending time with them again.
In 2002, Joseph introduced his life partner and great love, Jeffery C. Brooks, to the family. The love and respect between them over the years was wonderfully evident.
Joe had a deep passion for genealogy. With tireless dedication, he traced the family’s Briefne Donohoe line back to 1150 AD. Joseph was Clan Chieftain and displayed the Donohoe genealogy charts he updated each year at the Donohoe Clan Gathering in Ireland, sometimes accompanied by his sister Anita and Jeffery. Several years ago, he began a yDNA project to determine which line of Donohoes a family member came from.
Joe also charted his mother’s Spanish Santa Barbara line back to Northern Spain and often attended family reunions at Rancho San Julian near Lompoc, California.
Joe’s love of travel extended far and wide. For many years he would spend 3-4 months in Europe visiting family and friends.
Another passion of Joe’s was wine. He was a Chevalier de Tastevin, complete with ribbon and tasting cup. Joe studied viniculture at University of California, Davis. An avidly budding rancher, he brought rootstock back from Europe to see how the vines would grow at Davis. Would he find a grape that would produce the perfect wine? These baby vines had to be quarantined for years before they were released. Some of that rootstock may be at Lion Oaks today.
Jeffery was wonderfully devoted to Joe and ensured he received excellent care and comfort throughout his illness. He also made sure Joe thoroughly enjoyed his final months and days. Enjoy them he did! Christmas at Lion Oaks, roasted Dungeness crab at the Crustacean, Cirque de Soleil in Las Vegas, all with cherished family members and close friends. Joe laughed and danced with grace to the end.
Joseph’s final resting place at St. John’s Cemetery was carefully chosen. He will be placed next to his great aunt, Mary Donohoe Carter, with whom he was very close and from whom he inherited Lion Oaks Ranch. She saw in him a love of family, and someone who would love and care deeply for the property and vineyards.
Joe will be remembered for his love of family and friends, his gentle warmth, his elegance and his zest for life.
We love you, Joe.
Joseph was a member of the Pacific Union Club, the California Society of Pioneers, the Irish Order of Malta and Chieftain of Clan Donohoe.
Anita Donohoe's Eulogy, Memorial Service April 16th, 2011
