Published in the January 18, 2016 edition.
WAKEFIELD — Donald V. Shanahan, 85, of Wakefield passed away on Thursday, Jan. 14, at the Holy Family Hospital in Methuen.
Born in Winchester on Nov. 14, 1930, he was the son of John D. and Annie (Coakley) Shanahan.
Donald was a lifelong Wakefield resident and a graduate of Wakefield High School and Boston College, where he was a Rhodes scholar.
After college, he served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. Donald was a longtime teacher at the Dolbeare School and he also taught French on the PBS Channel for several years.
He was the brother of the late Roland Shanahan, Gladys Jackson, John Shanahan, Lenny Shanahan, Claire Bessler, Marion Doyle and Ged Shanahan. Donald is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Donald’s funeral service will be held at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Wednesday at 12 p.m. Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday from 4-7 p.m.
