Charles R. Donohoe's Obituary
CHARLES R. DONOHOE, SR. – HE WAS FULL OF LIFE
Charles R. Donohoe, Sr., a highly respected international patent attorney and Rehoboth Beach civic leader, died unexpectedly of a heart attack on Tuesday, May 3. Mr. Donohoe, who was known as Chuck, was 75 years old.
Chuck and his wife Nancy moved full-time to Rehoboth Beach in 2014 and very quickly became active and valuable members of the community. Nancy joined the Village Improvement Association. Chuck served as Treasurer and a Board Member of the Rehoboth Beach Homeowners Association, and was appointed to the City Board of Adjustment in 2015. He was respected for his calm demeanor, sense of humor, adherence to the facts, and ability to manage disparate opinions and personalities -- the same qualities that served him well during his legal career.
“Chuck dug into the details and didn’t rush to make judgments. He was a gentleman and everyone felt comfortable working with him,” said Rehoboth Beach Mayor Sam Cooper.
A Midwesterner, Chuck graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1964 and with a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1965. Realizing he didn’t like engineering or cold weather, Chuck went on to earn his Juris Doctor Degree from George Washington University Law School in 1970.
After graduation, Chuck remained in Washington, DC, becoming a fixture of the city’s patent law scene for decades, first in private practice with Cushman, Darby and Cushman (now part of Pillsbury, Winthrop) and then with Samsung.
Chuck joined Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a leading manufacturer of semiconductor, telecommunications, and consumer products in 1989. He moved to Korea and led all patent licensing and litigation activities. He started and managed Samsung’s legal department, which grew into a large and diverse staff of attorneys located in Seoul and Washington, DC.
Patents play an important role in encouraging technological innovation. According to William West, a close friend, law colleague, and golfing buddy, Chuck jumpstarted Samsung’s international patent program, which resulted in Samsung moving from one patent to being ranked as high as fourth in the world in issued patents by 2000. The rise in patents coincided with the company’s rise to be a worldwide giant in electronics.
He retired from Samsung in 2003 and then served until 2012 as Chief Intellectual Property Officer for Pachira, an Ottawa, Canada, company that licenses patents for small businesses.
Chuck was a golfer and loved to run and bike around town. He and Nancy traveled annually to Jamaica each winter to attend a two-week yoga retreat.
Chuck is survived by his wife Nancy; sisters Charlene Rohr and Suzanne Croci; daughter Kelly Berling of Richmond, VA; sons Patrick Donohoe of Fulton, MD, and Mark Donohoe of Bangkok, Thailand, and C.R. Donohoe of Los Angeles, CA; step-son Tom Grave of Sherborn, MA; and eight beloved grandchildren. His first wife Kathy predeceased him, February 5, 1997.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Monday, May 9, 2016 at 11:00 AM, at St. Edmond Catholic Church, 409 King Charles Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.
Please sign Mr. Donohoe's online guestbook located on this site.
FLORIST NOTE: PLEASE HAVE ALL FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS DELIVERED BY 3:00 PM ON SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2016 TO PARSELL FUNERAL HOMES, LEWES, DE.
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