James A. Donohoe III, CEO of one of the area’s prominent development companies, died on Monday at his Bethesda home after a battle with cancer.
He was 68.
Donohoe was Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of The Donohoe Companies, the D.C.-based, fourth generation family real estate business playing a big part in the redevelopment of downtown Bethesda.
He joined the family business as a summer construction worker and worked his way up to eventually succeed his uncle, Dick Donohoe, as president in 1987. The company developed the Hilton Garden Inn Bethesda, White Flint Place apartments and Chevy Chase Pavilion above the Friendship Heights Metro station. It’s construction division also had a hand in a number of area projects.
Donohoe lived in Bethesda, according to a press release, was a member of Congressional Country Club and enjoyed boating on the Potomac River.
Survivors include his wife of 43 years, Mary Jo Grimm Donohoe, two children, James A. “Jad” Donohoe IV of Washington;, Maurian Donohoe Dubinsky of Bethesda; two brothers, D. Patrick Donohoe of Chevy Chase; Robert B. Donohoe of Bethesda; two sisters, Virginia Donohoe McHugh of Chevy Chase; Rosemary Donohoe Collopey of Washington and three grandchildren.
Donohoe’s company became a big part of the redevelopment of Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle, the older commercial area of downtown.
Apartments at the Gallery Bethesda, at 17 stories the tallest building in Bethesda, is under construction and construction on a companion apartment at 4850 Rugby Ave. will begin soon. There are also plans to build an office complex at 8280 Wisconsin Ave., near Battery Lane.
Jad Donohoe serves on the Woodmont Triangle Action Commitee and as vice-chair of the Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board.
Photo via The Donohoe Companies
