Michael N. Donato

The son of Nicholas and Concetta Donato, Michael was born in Windber, PA on September 1, 1932. He is predeceased by his parents and sister Ann Spinazzolo. He is survived by his wife Jane and his brother Dennis Donato and his three sons, Dean Donato and wife Genie and granddaughter Taylor, Mark Donato and wife Pam and grandchildren Grant, Wes and Maddy and Scott Donato and wife Nicole and granddaughters Regan and Camden.

A graduate of Windber High School in Windber, PA in 1950 and commonly known as “Bud”, he was active in both the band and orchestra having played trumpet and served as a student conductor. He received his B.S. degree from Concord University in Music Education where he was a member of the marching and concert band playing trumpet, the choir and was on scholarship with the Bluefield Symphony in Bluefield, West Virginia playing the French Horn. He received a M.S. degree from Teachers College, Columbia University in New York plus a Professional diploma of advanced graduate work at Teachers College in Counseling and Educational Administration. Additional study was done at the University of Virginia.

Donato was first employed as a Band and Choral director at Castlewood High School in Castlewood Virginia. He spent his summers leading a Dance Band at the Nags Head Casino in Nags Head North Carolina. After two years he was drafted into the Army. While in the Army, he served as a musician with the First Army Band in New York City and then spent a year as the Assistant Conductor of the Eleventh Air Borne band in Augusburg, Germany. Upon being discharged, he spent a year as the Band and Choral Director at Middlesex High School in Saluda, Virginia.

In 1960, he was hired by the Derry Township Schools in Hershey, PA to be a music instructor. In this capacity, he was responsible for presenting many fine choral and Christmas performances.

In 1968, he was appointed to an administrative position with the Derry Township Schools, where he worked in the Junior High School handling the budget, counseling and supervision of student activities.

Upon his retirement from the educational community in 1985, he established a Gallery Of Art business specializing in art on oil canvases.

From 1996 up to the present, after having moved to the Carlisle area to be close to his son Scott, Mr. Donato was involved as a volunteer with the Employment Skills Center as a counselor and literary skills provider on an individual basis with over 80 students from 32 different countries. He provided preparation for American citizenship. He assisted students preparing for university graduate work and executives from foreign countries.

He was also a great supporter of his wife’s musical endeavors and the accomplishments of her voice and piano and clarinet students throughout the last 50 years.

Michael has been a very faithful member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and for as long as he has been a member served in the capacity of assisting in the handling and the accounting of the weekly financial contributions.

In addition, Mr. Donato has been very active as an alumnus of Concord University in Athens, West Virginia and in 2005 was chosen as a Golden Alumnus of the Year and presented with such an award at the University at that time.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 31, 2019 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 85 Marsh Drive, Carlisle, PA 17013 with Father Donald H. Bender as celebrant. Burial will follow the Mass at Westminster Memorial Gardens. A viewing will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening at the Hoffman Funeral Home and Crematory, 2020 W. Trindle Road, Carlisle, PA 17013.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Hoffman Funeral Home and Crematory, 2020 West Trindle Road, Carlisle, PA 17013.

To sign the guestbook, please visit www.hoffmanfh.com.