Robert James Donohue — the man, the myth, the
legend — left this earthly realm on February 6, 2026,
at his home in Woodbury, Connecticut. He was born on
June 19, 1947, in Mamaroneck, New York, to Joseph
Patrick Donohue and Angelina Rose Donohue (Amabile).
Robert was predeceased by his parents, Joseph and
Angelina; his brother Joe; his grandparents; and many
beloved uncles, aunts, cousins, and cherished friends. He
is survived by his daughter, Leah, and her partner in life,
James Gillette; his son, Rory—named after one of
Robert's favorite guitarists, Rory Gallagher—and his
girlfriend, Gatita Eustache; the grandchildren he
adored, Brooke Malkin, Julian Malkin, and James Malkin
(Robert's namesake); his sister, Mary Jane; and his nieces
and nephews Patti, Guy, Donna, Michael, Jared, and
Jessica—along with so many others who loved him.
Robert spent his early childhood in Mamaroneck in a
house full to the brim with parents, grandparents, siblings,
aunts, uncles, and cousins—a lively, loud, loving
foundation that shaped him for life. His immediate family
later moved to Stamford, Connecticut, where Robert's
lifelong love of rivers began—often recounting
adventures of swimming alongside friends and his dog,
always with a grin and usually an embellishment or two.
The family eventually settled in Ridgefield, Connecticut,
where Robert formed many lifelong friendships, including
Roy Cogswell, who later introduced him to the 12-step
fellowship community that would become central to
Robert's life for over 30 years. In his later years, Robert
built a life grounded in maintaining his sobriety and
serving his fellows, a commitment he carried with
humility, humor, and deep gratitude.
Robert served in the United States Army during the
Vietnam era, stationed in Germany. He later became selfemployed
in construction, working with his hands and
taking pride in doing things simply, honestly, and his own
way. True to that spirit, Robert lived a remarkably
grounded life—somehow managing to board an airplane
only once in the last fifty years, perfectly content to keep
his feet on solid ground.
Robert was deeply proud of his Irish and Italian heritage.
In his early years, he drank like the Irish, and for his
entire life, continued to eat like an Italian—joyfully,
generously, and without apology.
Describing Robert as "a character" does not quite do him
justice. He had a larger-than-life personality, an
unmatched ability to laugh at himself—and others—at
both appropriate and wildly inappropriate moments, and a
gift for storytelling that blurred the line between fact and
folklore. His tales included jailbreaks, lighting himself on
fire, late-night encounters with a "yuge" gray wolf,
starting a worm farm, and being related to Barbra
Streisand (there was, regrettably, no relation—this was
confirmed). These stories were often so absurd they
simply couldn't be true… except for the inconvenient
presence of witnesses.
Robert was also a walking encyclopedia of wonderfully
useless information, especially when it came to old
movies and music. If you mentioned a film from the
1940s or a guitarist from the 1960s, he could—and would
—tell you everything about it, whether you asked or not.
Robert loved animals—often more than people—and
shared his life with many beloved companions, including
Corky, Bugsy, Arrow, Belle, JD, Max, Ruby, and most
recently, Ozzy Pawsbourne. He also loved growing
potatoes, a pursuit that took time, patience, and
persistence—but one he eventually perfected and took
great pride in mastering. His bond with his animals (and
his potatoes) was deep, loyal, and uncomplicated, much
like the way he chose to live.
A die-hard New York Yankees fan, Robert's loyalty to the
team was unwavering and non-negotiable. In his honor,
all are welcome—encouraged, even—to wear Yankees
memorabilia to his service. Anyone arriving in Red Sox
attire will be immediately heckled upon entry, exactly as
Robert would have wanted.
Above all else, Robert was a devoted father and
grandfather. His love for his family was immense,
constant, and unmistakable. He showed up. He listened.
He laughed loudly. He loved fiercely. He was so many
things to so many people—a mentor, a friend, a
storyteller, a safe place, and a reminder that life is better
when you don't take yourself too seriously.
Robert leaves behind a legacy of laughter, resilience,
honesty, and love. His stories will be told and retold,
growing taller with time. He will be deeply missed,
forever quoted, and never forgotten — a true legend.

Friends may greet the family on Saturday February 14, 2026 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Bouton Funeral Home, 31 West Church Street, Georgetown.

To offer online condolences please visit: wwwboutonfuneralhome.com