It is with great sadness that the family of Joseph Michael Donahue Jr., of Milton, MA, announces his passing on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 after a period of failing health.

Joseph was the beloved partner of Erika (Rhodes) Donahue, for 46 beautiful years. Born at Milton Hospital, on August 2, 1957, he was the son of the late Joseph M. Donahue Sr. and the late Jean T. (Varnerin) Donahue.

Joseph was a 1976 graduate of Milton Academy and earned his Mechanical Engineering degree in 1981 from Tufts University. He was extremely dedicated and hardworking throughout his career in construction estimating, making it his mission to work on every bridge and tunnel in the greater Boston Area. His work experiences also brought him beyond Massachusetts, namely to the states of Alabama, California, Tennessee and Texas, as well as Edinburgh, Scotland.

Beyond his engineering work, he was able to take practically anything apart and put it back together in one try. Joseph was always willing to take these skills and lend a helping hand to anyone who needed it. He also served the Town of Milton, beginning when he was a teenager and continued for many years, providing sanding and snowplowing services in the winter and welding projects year round.

Joseph was a man who stayed true to his faith, which guided him to be an excellent husband, father, son, brother, godfather, uncle, and friend. He felt at home when surrounded by his people whether that was attending weekly mass at St. Elizabeth's Church, or at the many activities of his boys from football, rugby, baseball, basketball, and hockey games to the countless band and chorus concerts and recitals. He often proudly talked about his “Friday night booster burger dates with his bride.”

Joseph will be forever missed by his loving wife Erika, his children Joseph M. Donahue III, Matthew H. Donahue and his fiancé Shannon Dowling and Benjamin D. Donahue and his wife Kylie and his siblings: Martha D. Callaway and her husband Michael, Virginia M. King and her husband John Paul, Robert A. Donahue and his late wife Maureen, Maria D. Murphy and her husband Timothy, and Lawrence J. Donahue and his wife Shannon, as well as many cherished nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his visitation on Sunday, June 14, 2026, from 2:00-5:00 PM at Dolan Funeral Home, 460 Granite Avenue, East Milton Square. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, June 15, 2026 at 10:00 AM in Our Lady of the Visitation Parish, Saint Elizabeth Church, 350 Reedsdale Road, Milton, MA. Interment Milton Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the friends and extended family that provided support and care, especially in the last year, and the healthcare team at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Milton for the care and kindness displayed for both Joseph and the rest of the family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Elizabeth’s Church of Our Lady of the Visitation Parish or the Lewy Body Dementia Association.