Obituary of James Edward Donnelly

James E. Donnelly 1931-2017 James Edward Donnelly known to many as “Mr. Ed”, 85, of Reston, VA, went to his heavenly rest on February 2, 2017 at Reston Hospital Center. Born July 17, 1931 in Melrose, MA, he was the son of the late Mary Ellen (Kenneally) Donnelly and the second of ten children. He was a graduate of Everett High School and received a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Northeastern University through its co-op program in 1960. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserves achieving the rank of a 2nd Class Aviation Mechanic prior to an honorable discharge. He moved to Reston, VA in 1967 to become a civil servant with the U.S. Postal Service working as an engineer at their headquarters in Washington, D.C. until retirement in 1992. A member of St. Thomas a Becket Catholic Church since its founding. He was a member and past president of the Reston Lions Club for many years. An avid golfer he played a number of courses in the U.S. and Europe, Scotland was his favorite. He played golf for 35 years at the Reston South public golf course which opened in 1971 and is currently known as Reston National Golf Course. He is survived by his daughter, Erin Donnelly of Reston, VA; sisters Patricia Desmond, Claire Anderson, Kathleen Donnelly, Anne Zellen (Thomas), sisters-in-law Irene Donnelly (John) and Susan Donnelly (Richard) and brother-in-law Philip Yosway (Frances), as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Virginia, John, Jane, Richard and Frances in addition to nephews Thomas Zellen II and Glen Donnelly. There will be no hours of public visitation. A Memorial Mass to be announced later will be held in Peabody, MA with burial following in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to a charity of your choice in memory of “Mr. Ed”.