William D. Donahue

William D. Donahue, 77, of Cottonwood died August 6, 2013, surrounded by his family and his friends at Carefree Assisted Living Center where he has lived for the past decade after a tragic head injury limited his abilities but did not diminish his spirit. He was born on July 24, 1936 in Ahmeek, Michigan the son of Rex and Ann Donahue. Bill graduated from North High School in Phoenix and attended Phoenix College. Summers he worked as a cowboy and Forest Fire Fighter. Drafted in 1958, he served 17 months in Germany and was recalled to active duty for an additional year during the Berlin Crisis in 1961. A love of Flamenco dance honed by his visits to Spain led to a career under the stage name Mario Gades as lead dancer in the Mario Gades Flamenco Dance Company in Phoenix, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. His day job was elevator mechanic and he "walked the iron" installing elevators on high-rises in Phoenix and Las Vegas as a member of the National Elevator Industry Union. Bill held a 4th degree black belt in Karate earned at Bob Trias Karate Dojo in Phoenix. He spoke many languages and was often mistaken for a native speaker in German. Surviving are his sister Mary Ann Hall (Charles), his brother Robert Donahue (Barbara), five nieces, Erica Vucich, Elaina Vucich, Marcia Donahue, Debbie Raineri and Janet Raineri and four nephews, Mark Donahue, Christopher Donahue, John Raineri and Joseph Raineri. Also surviving are cousins Gloria Leveque (Richard) and Carolyn Wall (Kevin) in Payson, Arizona, Frank Kastelic Jr. and Audrey Longshore in Michigan, john Bruce Weiss (Mary Jane) in Wisconsin, the Ralph Weiss family in Oregon and numerous great nieces and nephews whom Bill loved and cherished. A memorial mass will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Bill Gray Road in Cottonwood on Wednesday, August 14, 2013 at 10:30 AM. Burial will follow with military honors at All Souls Cemetery. An online guestbook is available to sign at www.westcottfuneralhome.com