By Rebecca Goodman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MONFORT HEIGHTS - Robert J. Donnellon, founder of Donnellon McCarthy Inc., a distributor of office equipment in Greater Cincinnati for 46 years, died Saturday at his home here.

Mr. Donnellon, who was 82, began peddling some of Lanier's first dictation machines by personally calling at doctors' and lawyers' offices. He also traveled to hospitals in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia, installing systems that updated their medical-records departments.

Donnellon McCarthy grew with the advances in technology, and today the 150-employee firm sells, installs and services copiers and fax machines.

"He was best known for the wonderful way he treated others," said his daughter, Mary Beth Espel of Delhi Township. "He was a respecter of all men, and he befriended and mentored many young employees who were not initially qualified for the job.

Starting his own business was the fulfillment of a dream.

"He spoke often of the struggle his family had during the Great Depression and commented that every time an employee married or had a child, he felt responsible for another mouth to feed,'' his daughter said. "This was the drive behind decades of long hours and hard work - his love for his family and all of the families affiliated with his company."

Born in Cincinnati in 1921, Mr. Donnellon graduated from Elder High School in Price Hill and attended the University of Cincinnati for a year.

He was drafted into the Army during World War II in 1942 and sent to the 801st Tank Destroyer Battalion of School Troops at Camp Hood, Texas. Accepted into Tank Destroyer Officer Candidate School, he was made a second lieutenant.

Mr. Donnellon was transferred to Fort Benning, Ga., and sent through Infantry Officer Candidate School. He served as an instructor of demolitions and mining.

He was sent to Okinawa as a specialist with the Pacific 7th Division.

After the bombing of Hiroshima, the 7th landed in Inchon to liberate the Koreans.

Mr. Donnellon was honorably discharged the following year with the rank of captain.

After the war, he was hired by Robin Hood Flour to sell refined white flour in Cincinnati. He then launched his own business.

In addition to his daughter, Mary Beth, survivors include: his wife of 60 years, Irma M. Guenthner Donnellon; three other daughters, Karen Turk of Lawrenceburg, Sharon Mullins of Fairfield and Aimee Meier of Green Township; three sons, James of Lawrenceburg, Robert P. of Green Township and Michael of Madison, Ind.; two sisters, Jeanne Fischer of Westwood and Betty Sanker of Dayton; a brother, William Donnellon of Orange City, Fla.; 26 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Visitation is 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. today, with the rosary being said at 11 a.m. at Radel Funeral Home, 650 Neeb Road, Delhi Township. Mass of Christian burial is noon today at St. Ignatius Loyola Church, 5222 North Bend Road in Monfort Heights.

Memorials: Mother Angelica, c/o EWTN, 5817 Old Leeds Road, Irondale, AL 35210.

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com