Terrence 'Terry" Donnellon

Terrence “Terry” Donnellon, 72, passed away on July 30, 2026, surrounded by his family at Hospice of Cincinnati Blue Ash Inpatient Care Center. He was born on April 9, 1954, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to the late Edward and Mary Margaret “Peggy” (Nolan) Donnellon. Terry graduated from Archbishop Moeller High School in 1972 and went on to earn both his bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Cincinnati. He worked as an attorney for his family’s law firm, Donnellon, Donnellon & Miller - Attorneys at Law, for almost 50 years, in addition to serving as the law director for the City of Montgomery for the past 29 years. He married Joyce Gessing on May 28, 1976, in Cincinnati. They shared 50 wonderful years together.

Terry was best known for his love of family and friends, cooking, music, quick wit, and an intense work ethic backed by a sharp legal mind. He was fiercely proud of his Irish heritage. Luckily, he and Joyce were able to visit the old sod in 2024 and fulfill a lifelong dream of returning to the land of his ancestors. He loved leading his large extended family in singing “D-O-DOUBLE-N-E-DOUBLE-L-O-N spells Donnellon” each year at the St. Patrick’s Day parade and sharing a pint (or two) with everyone after.

His grandchildren were the absolute pride and joy of his life, and he supported them by attending sporting events, dance competitions, school plays, performances, and graduations. Terry loved cooking, and sharing food was one of his love languages. He was a founding member of The Smokin’ Irish BBQ team and loved cooking for competitions but also used it as a way to show others he cared for them. His grandchildren will always remember “Papa’s” food taste-test parties where he and the kids rated pizzas, sausages, donuts, and chili from various places around the city.

Music was always something Terry enjoyed. Whether listening to vinyl records or the radio, he always made sure his kids knew random facts about the artist or song being played. He also deeply enjoyed performances by his daughter, Annie, over the years. Terry was also an avid reader of history and politics, as evidenced by his expansive home library.

Terry was a terrible golfer, yet he never lacked golf buddies. He played in a local summer league and joined his friends for two annual golf trips each year. Terry always made sure his friends were well-fed, famously supplying and preparing his signature "Dirty Rice" for the entire group. It was a true testament to his immense generosity, his deep love of cooking, and his joy in bringing people together.

Terry worked full time up until his stroke in June 2026. His clients and the people in the City of Montgomery—his second family—were never far from his mind. He was known for his fairness and integrity, earning the respect of colleagues, elected officials, and members of the public alike. Terry was a generous and caring human being whose kindness and character left a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. He will be remembered not only for his outgoing and fun personality, but also for the compassion, wisdom, and humanity he brought to every person he met.

Terry is survived by his beloved wife, Joyce Donnellon; children, Molly (Chris) Simpson, Meghan (Matt) Hyden, Jeff (Amy) Donnellon, and Annie (Jamie) Davis; grandchildren, Maddie, Nick, and Finn Simpson, Ellie Hyden, and Michael, William, Jacob, and Samuel Donnellon; brothers, Tom (Alice) Donnellon and Steve (Sherri) Donnellon; and an expansive group of nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family. He is preceded in death by his brother, Dan (Carole) Donnellon.

A visitation will take place on Saturday, August 8 at Bellarmine Chapel, 3801 Francis Xavier Way, Cincinnati, OH 45207, from 9:00 am until 9:45 am, with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 10:00 am at the church. A Celebration of Life will follow at the Cintas Center. A private burial will take place at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Cincinnati later.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Terry’s memory to the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired or St. Vincent de Paul.