Senate Resolution No. 2024

BY: Senator JACOBS

MOURNING the death of Donald Hanley McNerney,
distinguished citizen, devoted member of his
community and dedicated family man

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and

WHEREAS, It is with feelings of deepest regret that this Legislative
Body mourns the passing of Donald Hanley McNerney of Buffalo, New York,
who died on June 5, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Born in South Buffalo in 1928, Donald Hanley McNerney was
the youngest of six children; he served his country as a member of the
United States Army Air Force; while serving, he was stationed in Japan
and was responsible for drawing maps; and

WHEREAS, Donald Hanley McNerney returned to his home and married the
former Jean Mann; together they were the proud parents of five
daughters; and

WHEREAS, Donald Hanley McNerney was employed for many years with
Standard Oil Company which today is Mobil Oil; while working he attended
night school and earned an accounting degree from University of Buffalo;
and

WHEREAS, Donald Hanley McNerney passed along a great deal of advice
to his daughters: he insisted they duplicate his work ethic, never be
late, never stop learning and asking questions, work hard and always
make your boss look good, as well as, when in doubt, throw it out; and

WHEREAS, Donald Hanley McNerney was always interested in what was
going on in the world; he would wake his children so they could watch
the Beatles on Ed Sullivan and he loved to take them to the Science
Museum and Old Fort Niagara; and

WHEREAS, This remarkable man learned how to code when his daughter
took a programming class in college; he also read the newspaper every
day and when he became curious about Facebook, he started his own page;
in his 80s, he purchased an iPhone and his first text read "Now is the
time for all good men to come to the aid of the party", a typing drill
he learned from the early 1900s; and

WHEREAS, Donald Hanley McNerney loved: "Mad Men", "Big Love", and
the theme music, "God Only Knows"; he also loved to sing hymns at Mass;
and

WHEREAS, A hardworking, pragmatic man who lived for his family,
Donald Hanley McNerney enjoyed spending Sunday evenings with his loved
ones centered around the dinner table; this was important to him and the
tradition continued as his children grew up, married and had children of
their own; and


WHEREAS, Happy when surrounded by people he loved, Donald Hanley
McNerney had several high school friends he would meet for coffee every
Tuesday morning; and

WHEREAS, Predeceased by his wife, Jean; daughter and son-in-law,
Susan (Peter); brother and sister-in-law, Robert (Mary Grace);
brother-in-law, Robert; and sisters-in-law, Angela and Rosemary, Donald
Hanley McNerney is survived by his daughters, Cheryl (Donald), Laura
(Walter), Julie (Anthony) and Carrie (Blake); 17 grandchildren and three
great-grandchildren; three brothers, William, Roger (Jeanne) and Gerald;
one sister, Bernadine; and his dear friend, Janet Murray; as well as
many nieces and nephews; and

WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Donald Hanley McNerney leaves behind a legacy which will
long endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory
to all he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Donald Hanley McNerney, distinguished citizen,
devoted member of his community, and dedicated family man; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Donald Hanley McNerney.