Martin P. Donohoe, a longtime delivery driver and multifaceted artist, died Aug. 24. Donohoe, 49, died in his sleep, and the cause of death was unknown at press time.
Donohoe is a native of Juniata in Northeast Philadelphia and most recently lived at 21st and Chestnut streets.
He hailed from a large family — sixth in a line of nine children.
His brother, Patrick, however, said Donohoe always stood out.
“He was so much fun, the life of the party,” Patrick said. “Everyone was always happy to see him.”
Donohoe’s sister, Lori Donohoe O’Neill, said her brother’s energy was infectious.
“He lit up our lives with his wonderful humor,” she said.
Growing up, Donohoe took a leadership role in his family, teaching his younger siblings to fish, build rafts and forts on weekends at the family’s house on the Delaware Bay. He also helped them with school projects and took them on trips.
He used his big-brother status to impart important life lessons, Donohoe O’Neill said.
“He taught us a lot of great values,” she said. “He looked after a number of the elderly women on our block: He would visit them, bring them groceries and flowers. He showed us the importance of being caring and looking after other people.”
Donohoe graduated from Northeast Catholic High School for Boys and went on to work as a driver for United Parcel Service for more than two decades.
One of his true passions, however, was art.
Donohoe sketched and painted, and often gave his works away to family members as gifts. He also designed costumes for the Mummers, and crafted his own Mummers dolls.
Donohoe also played six musical instruments.
“Music was always part of his world,” Patrick said.
Donohoe’s life was not without struggles.
He was abused by a priest as a teenager and reported the abuse in 2002. His accuser, who pleaded guilty to the allegations in 2005, became the first convicted Archdiocesan priest in the city’s sex-abuse scandal.
However, the priest was only sentenced to 12 years on probation — no jail time.
“When the judge gave him that sentence, it felt like a slap in the face to him,” Patrick said. “He was very let down. Afterward he wasn’t the happy, jovial Marty we grew up with, so that was hard.”
Donohoe also had an injury that led to Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. He used a scooter to get around, but his sister said he prided himself on his independence.
He didn’t let the condition put limits on him, and became the first Mummer to participate in the parade in a wheelchair.
In a 2000 letter to the Philadelphia Inquirer in response to a reader comment criticizing the Mummers Parade, and instead glorifying the Rose Bowl Parade, Donohoe’s dedication to the craft, and his wit, was evident.
“The Rose Bowl Parade is nice — sunny weather, low humidity and conceived out of the glorification of a leather object you throw to a person who can catch it. Clap, clap,” he wrote. “This 100-year-old tradition of ours started from European immigrants. We sincerely try to please people because we are Mummers, modern jesters in a cynical world.”
In addition to his humor, Patrick said his brother will be most remembered for his caring and generous sprit.
“He was a loving person,” he said. “He cared about everybody, even animals. He just completely loved his family and friends and would do anything for them.”
Donohoe’s family asked that friends share a random act of kindness to honor his memory.
In addition to Patrick and Donohoe O’Neill, Donohoe is survived by siblings Elizabeth, Gene, Thomas, Danny and Michael. He is predeceased by brother John and parents John and Delores.
He is also survived by cousin Theresa Anne Breward, friend Robert Derer and nieces and nephews.
His funeral will be held at 9 a.m. Sept. 8 at Holy Innocents Church, 1337 E. Hunting Park Ave.
