Kent Donahue wanted to be a policeman since the day in elementary school when he got to be a school crossing guard.
Later an officer spoke to his junior high school class, telling the kids police often help people turn their lives around. That confirmed his wish.
Donahue, 49, who died May 29, spent his adult life in law enforcement. He was chief of police in Silverthorne.
Donahue was at the Denver International Airport baggage claim after returning from a trip, when he collapsed. He was pronounced dead that evening at Aurora Medical Center. Cause of death hasn’t been determined, said his wife, Jaime Donahue.
A service will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Dillon Amphitheater.
Though he had been in Silverthorne only since August, Donahue made a big impression on people, according to other city officials.
“He was delightful and the consummate professional,” said Lou del Piccolo, Silverthorne mayor. “He had an inordinate care about people and issues. He was a solid, reasonable, thoughtful person.”
“He made friends with everyone right off the bat,” said Kevin Batchelder, town manager. “He had innate leadership qualities and was kind and compassionate.”
Donahue was a hard worker and sometimes came by the office on holidays, giving those on duty time off to spend with their families.
“He was good at mediating through conversation,” said his son, Jim Donahue, a Frisco police sergeant.
Sometimes Kent Donahue was even asked to help people with handyman projects at their homes. It wasn’t his strength, “but he’d certainly try,” his wife said.
Donahue always remembered that officer’s speech from his childhood. In Greeley, where he served on the police force for 27 years, he was on the board of Weld County Partners, a group that mentored kids with problems.
In Silverthorne he helped with the Special Olympics and led efforts to coordinate emergency response actions among counties.
Kent Donahue was born in Lakewood on May 8, 1956. He married his Lakewood High School sweetheart, Jaime Frommer, on Aug. 21, 1976.
He was a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va., had a bachelor’s degree in technical education from Colorado State University and a master’s in organization management from the University of Phoenix. He was working on a second master’s in criminal justice executive leadership at the University of Colorado.
In addition to his wife and son, he is survived by his daughter, Katie Donahue of Greeley; his grandson, Kellon Donahue; his parents, Ralph and Carol Donahue of Golden; a brother, Kevin Donahue, and a sister, Carla Elliott, both of the Denver area.
Staff writer Virginia Culver can be reached at 303-820-1223 or vculver@denverpost.com.
