Kevin Francis Donoghue passed peacefully away with his wife of 63 years, Ellen, and family at his side.

Born on April 18th, 1940 to James A. and Margaret Mulrennan in Cambridge, MA, he was the last of seven children. He was predeceased by his beloved sisters, Ellie Tierney, Evie Schurman, Peggy Smith, and brothers John, Kenny and Jimmy.

Kevin’s love of his life was his wife, Ellen, who he met at Boston College (BC). They married on June 24th, 1961. Their honeymoon was a road trip staying at Kevin’s various relatives’ homes and motels along the way. For those who knew Kevin, it would not surprise them to hear that when Kevin left his shoes at a previous motel, he asked Ellen why she hadn’t packed them. She laughed at him and let him know that it was not her job—and they were off to the races. Energetic marital debate was not unknown to visit the numerous adventures and accomplishments of their long, loving marriage. But as all know, Kevin adored the ground where Ellen walked.

After graduating from BC (from where he later also earned an MBA), Kevin was commissioned as a lieutenant in the United States Army, from which he ultimately retired a major. Shortly after their marriage, Kevin and Ellen moved to Fort Riley, Kansas, where Sean (Peggy) was born, followed by Michael (Kathy).

Leaving active duty, Kevin and his young wife and family returned to the Boston area, where he embarked on a new career at Liberty Mutual. There, Colleen (Michael), Kerry (Manny) and Liam (Kerry), completed the family.

Eschewing insurance sales, he undertook a short stint for an insurance consulting firm, when his entrepreneurial drive took over. With a young family, Kevin took the leap to found his own risk management advisory firm. He cherished the business and his clients, and with the many professionals he supported and harried, Kevin leaves a storied legacy.

Beyond his immediate family, Kevin loved his 11 grandkids: Alex, Kevin, Abby, Tyler, William, Ben, Jake, Caroline, Jessica, Dermot and Jack. Kevin also had close relationships with all of his nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, and enjoyed making their significant others as lovingly uncomfortable as he made his clients’ insurance brokers and insurers.

Kevin was a storyteller, an avid game-player and frequently both. He was a master of card games including Poker, Hearts, Skat and Oh-Hell.

Kevin also loved to sing. He played the gut-bucket and guitar. On an early date with Ellen, at a fraternity party at a Boston Hotel, he escorted her to the rest room. When she exited and he was nowhere to be found, she heard singing at a wedding coming from the other room. Investigating, she found wedding-crasher-Kevin on stage, singing “I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts”. Wherever he was, he was having the time of his life.

Both personally and professionally, Kevin wielded a sarcastic wit with a leaky filter and somehow delivered a verbal jab with enough empathy that most recipients could not help to respect, if not love, him.

Kevin and Ellen navigated life and family dramas together with a band of best friends (self-named “the Crazies”): Helen and Peter McCone, Gloria and Tom May, Pat and Jim Morris, Brigid O’Riordan, and Brian and Anna Toole. They regularly held lengthy dinners hosted on a rotating basis. On an occasion they were hosting, Kevin delighted the group with a preview of the menu starting with Waldorf salad, followed by rack of lamb, mashed potatoes, haricots verts and dessert of chocolate mousse. However, after the salad, Kevin proudly walked into the dining room with freshly delivered pizza. Some in the group were not amused.

Kevin traveled extensively. While Ellen spearheaded the trips, Kevin crafted the stories. His final trip in August last year brought Kevin and his family back to his beloved Ireland. He loved the music, culture, Guiness and mostly fun times spent with his family. That trip was the last hurrah for the singing, laughing, loving, wry force of nature that was Kevin. His family remember him walking into the dining room of the castle in Ireland with his arms wide and loudly announcing, “I’m here!”

Funeral service will be held Saturday, December 14th at the Dolan Funeral Home, 460 Granite Ave., EAST MILTON SQUARE at 11:00 am. Interment in Milton Cemetery, MILTON. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 14th at the Dolan Funeral Home from 9:00 – 11:00 am prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Kevin may be made to Cape Cod Village, 19 Childs Homestead Rd., Building 3, Orleans, MA 02653 ~ www.capecodvillage.org.