Obituaries

Donnelly

Air Force Lt. Col. Lance A. Donnelly, who grew up in Los Gatos, died Jan. 17 in an A-10 fighter plane collision while training over southern Arizona. He was 40.

Donnelly was born in San Jose on June 18, 1961--Father's Day that year. As a child, he played Little League baseball, and as a teenager he participated in competitive swimming, both at school and with the Junior Olympics.

After graduating from Leigh High School and San Jose State University, he was commissioned in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at SJSU. He entered the U.S. Air Force in 1984 and earned his wings in 1985. Donnelly also met his future wife, Giuliana, while at college; they were married in the chapel at Moffett Field in 1990.

Donnelly was a command pilot who flew more than 1,800 hours in A/OA-10 fighter planes and more than 3,000 total flight hours in all planes. Among other assignments, he flew with the 92nd Tactical Fighter Squadron at RAF Bentwaters and with the 511th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Alconbury--both in England. He also served as a T-37 instructor pilot at Reese Air Force Base in Texas and later moved up the ranks of Flight Commander, Flight Evaluator and finally, Wing Flying Safety Officer for the T-38 Talon.

In 1994, he returned to flying A/OA-10s and was assigned to the 25th Fighter Squadron, Assam Dragons, based in the Republic of Korea. With this group, he flew many combat support missions in North and South Korean demilitarized zones.

In 1995, Donnelly became an A-10 instructor pilot and assistant operations officer in Tucson, Ariz. After three years there, he was transferred for a time to Naples, Italy, in various director positions, which concluded with him as Branch Chief for the Combined Joint Force Air Component Commander's staff. He returned to Tucson in 2001 and was assigned to the 354th Fighter Squadron, also called The Bulldogs.

"Lance was a delight to everyone who knew him and especially to his family," his mother, Connie, wrote for the program at his funeral. "We'll all miss him terribly but take comfort in having 40 years of his love, strength of character, wonderful humor and knowing that not everyone realizes their dreams, [but] he did!"

"He was a remarkable and brave man who made his career in the Air Force. He deserves all the recognition he can get," says friend Roy Frederickson of Los Gatos.

Survivors include wife, Giuliana Donnelly of Tucson, Ariz.; children Cameron and Olivia Donnelly of Tucson; parents Ralph and Connie Donnelly of Los Gatos; brother Kevin Donnelly of San Jose; and nephew Jared Donnelly of San Jose.

Memorial services have been held.

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