James Joseph Donegan was born on Sept 4, 1948 in Cambridge, MA, the second son of nine children of Edward and Rita Donegan. Jim died on July 13, 2024 after a 5 month battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife Janine.

Jim was an exceptional student at a very young age. He attended Our Lady's Help of Christians Parish High School, Newton, Ma. He completed undergraduate studies in chemistry at Brandeis University and his Doctoral degree in Molecular Biology was completed at Stoneybrook University, Stoneybrook, NY under Dr Rolf Sternglantz. He completed his Post Doc at Hunter College, NY, NY under Harvey Ozier.

Graduating in 1970 when science and technology were suffering in funding and esteem he was unable to find a job in a chemistry lab. He hit the road stopping in the Berkshire's, Cape Cod, and Oregon to work in hotels as a night auditor and to enjoy nature and think about his future.

Finally acquiring his first science position at 35, he was hired at Enzo Biochem, NYC, a Biotechnology company; the first "DNA Probe" company in the USA. Under Dr Elazar Rabanni, the company developed test kits for many 25 out of 100 diseases at that time. Working at Enzo he was named the "Tinkerer". Jim was driven by the "sheer joy at tinkering". He was recognized in a story in New York Magazine (May 26, 1986) about Enzo buying the Bellevue Morgue and a breakthrough for a quick test for gonorrhea. The article said" FINE TUNING: Jim Donegan reasoned that the key to developing a quick test for gonorrhea was to find a fragment of DNA that was unique to gonorrhea but not to its very close meningitides."

He said "Science is a process where you control the variables one at a time and poke around to your heart's content until you find the answer" He also loved playing pool for community and to help him clear his head for more science.

Retiring in 2020, Jim moved back with his wife Janine of 34yrs, (a couple for 38yrs) to Amesbury, MA; the hometown of his namesake grandfather James Joseph Donegan, a past pharmacist of the town.

He walked 4 miles a day because his doctor said it was his JOB now. In retirement he also pursued his shared love of Maya Archeology with his wife Janine. They lived in the Yucatan Pennisula during winter months and continued trips to Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras as well as Inca Studies with a trip to Machu Pichu and others sites in Peru. In Nov 2023 he completed a final Expedition to visit a rediscovered Maya site " White Dog" , a new site project coincidently run by archeologist Charles Golden of Brandeis University. He also enjoyed traveling to Janine's hometown, Thousand Oaks, Ca, where helped care for her mother. He loved vacationing in Laguna Beach and Huntington Beach, CA.

He always enjoyed playing cards and talking with his siblings : Edward (Ruth), Stephen (Eileen), Kevin (Eva), Maureen Donegan Branzburg (Lewis), Brian ( pre-deceased)( Kathy) Andy(Cathi) David(Lisa) and Michael( Leslie). He LOVED children. He never raised his voice or got mad. He was kind and compassionate. and enjoyed his nieces and nephews on the east coast and west coast. EC: Tara, Jessica, Emily, Megan, Erin, Daniel, Shaun, Maximilian (god son), Alexandra (god daughter) Kevin, Sasha, Darby, Ishbel (god daughter), Micael, Riley, Kinsey. Great nieces and nephews: Damien, Scarlett, Gavin, Liam, Maeve and Cian. Luna, Vera, Austin, Tanner Joey, Elliot , Romi. WC: Mother in law Elaine J Ramsey, brothers and sister in laws: Dan & Shari ( pre deceased) Ramsey, John & Laura Ramsey(Van Auker), Doug Ramsey and Angela Ramsey. Nephews and Nieces: Jason, Shawnna Brittany, Jonathan ( pre deceased) and Blake. Kyle, Kait and Adrienne. Grand nieces Ashley, McKailey, Collin, Sienna, Camilla, Phillip, Tobin, Harper, Samuel and Sadie. Lastly, Meghan Dermody (goddaughter).

He was greatly loved and he will be greatly missed. "We love you Jimbo, Seamus and Shameless"!