Daniel Karl Donat, 71, of Madeira Beach, FL, passed away on Tuesday, December 24, 2013 at home under the care of Suncoast Hospice after a long struggle with lung cancer and COPD.
Born in Philadelphia, PA on October 15, 1942, he moved here in 1946. As a teenager, he worked in his family restaurant, Donat’s Steak House, on Haines Road. He was a 1960 graduate of Northeast High School. He worked as a Pressroom Foreman for the St. Petersburg Times from 1967-1990 and for the Tampa Tribune as a Pressman from 1990-2005. He owned and operated Dan’s Auto Repair before retiring. He was a member of Christ United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, Sons of the American Legion, Post #273, and a lifetime member of Holiday Isles Elks Club #1912, both in Madeira Beach.
Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Marcy; two daughters, Melissa (Jim) Hussey of Hudson, FL and Kristie (Carlo) Appugliese of Seminole, FL; and four grandsons, Connor and Ryan Hussey, Carlo and Jacob Appugliese.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, January 6, 2014 at the American Legion Post, #273, 600 American Legion Drive, St. Petersburg 33708.
Please sign the guestbook below.
This message is from Don and Clara’s son as my dad does not have a computer. He says he will miss Dan as he worked closely with him at The St. Petersburg Times for many years.
Danny will be missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to family.
We will miss seeing Dan at the Holiday Isle Elks and American Legion. Our sympathy to Marcy and the family.
Dear Marcy….We are truly sorry for you and your family. Dan kept many a car running…too bad his running stopped. We enjoyed your company many times!!!! He’d want the good times to keep-on-rolling!!!!! May he rest in peace!!
Our condolences to you family …… Jay Farris … LynnRae & Zach Kidd..
Dear Marcy # 1,
Reg and I are ao aorry about Dan. Our hearts are with you and the family. The four of us had some really nice times together. Those times will never be forgotten. Let us know if we can help in any way. We love you girl. Slow and steady, prayers, thoughts.
Reggie & Marcy #2
Marcy
Our sympathies for your loss. Dan waged a good fight but now is at peace. May God grant you and your family peace and comfort during this difficult time.
We grew up thru our teen years with Danny and had so many fun
fun times together. Jim worked at The Times with him and
we did a lot of socializing as young marrieds. So sorry to
his family for your loss. I did speak with him a month
before and we reminisced about our years together.
I went to 54th Avenue Elementary, Lealman Jr. High and Northeast with Danny. We both had Oct. 1942 birthdays and I remember one of his celebrations at his Dad’s restaurant. I’m so sorry to hear about his recent passing.
Cancer is such a terrible disease for the caregiver as well as the patient and family. Marcy, take good care of yourself. I can identify with what you are going through. My husband has inoperable brain cancer and it’s so tragic to watch a former top athlete as recently as July lose his mobility and fall.
Hugs to you and your daughters,
Audrey
Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. Dan will be missed.
Marcy & Family: I’m so grateful that we re-connected a few years ago. I had missed our birthday celebrations. I will toast my twin on October 15th.May God bless you all. C
my thoughts have been with you since our last contact I am sorry Mr. Donat was unable to survive his cancer I am grateful that I was able to have known him my sympathies and best wishes to Mrs Donat and family
Just learned of Dan’s death. He and I went to Lealman Jr. High and Northeast together, graduating in ’60. My father was a regular customer of Donat’s on Haines Road. I didn’t realize until reading the obituary that we wound up in the same business. I retired in 2008 as editor of the Austin American-Statesman. Condolences to his family.
My condolences to the entire family. You may not remember me. I am Danny’s cousin and visited more frequently as a child in the 50’s and 60’s when Uncle Craig and Aunt Amy owned the restaurant and then when they worked at Morrison’s. My dad, George Schneider (Amy’s brother) died of lung cancer in November 2009. It’s too bad our family drifted apart. I moved to Florida (Palm City) in 1989, have one son and 3 grandsons. I’m a breast cancer survivor (2011) and often wonder how Joan’s son Michael is doing.