(1928-) New York City, New York
Donahue grew up in an Irish Catholic family in The Bronx, New York, the son of Thomas R. and Mary E. Donahue. After completing his elementary and secondary schooling, he joined the U.S. Navy at the age of 17, serving as a seaman from 1945-1946. Upon his return to shore, Donahue worked as a part-time organizer with the Retail Clerks International Union and attended Manhattan College, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in labor relations in 1949.
National AFL-CIO Culture and History
http://www.aflcio.org/aboutaflcio/history/history/donahue.cfm
The National Endowment for Democracy:
http://www.ned.org/about/board_bios/donahue.html
Infoplease (affiliate of Family Education Network):
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0815840.html
Cornell University News:
http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/Sept97/ILR.Donahue.dg.html
LA Labor interview with Donahue:
http://www.lalabor.org/LALN_6.html#2