Used by permission from KOIN News 6

Newberg City Club mourns the loss of its Board member and friend Mike Donahue.

Mike Donahue became one of the most trusted journalists ever in Portland during a 44-year career with KOIN 6 News. Mike Donahue was in your living room during every time period over his lengthy career at KOIN 6 News, from early mornings to prime time. Over the decades, Mike covered the world and was sent overseas for several assignments, including Somalia. 

Mike retired from KOIN 6 News in 2012 and moved to the area known as The Greens in Newberg with his wife Susan. He immediately became active in the community, serving on the board of Providence Newberg and joining Newberg City Club. Mike’s involvement with our club started as an engaged member then, asking the type of thoughtful and informed questions that were hallmarks of his illustrious career in television journalism. During the period of the COVID andemic when city club went online in the format City Club Conversations in 2020, Mike volunteered his time interviewing guests, once again becoming a stable presence in people’s homes and a source of rigorous newsworthy information, carrying out the city club mission with his signature cloak of respectability and reassuring comfort. He
worked with former Newberg City Manager and city club programming chairperson Joe Hannan on programming. When Joe and his wife moved out of the area, Mike stepped up. He was elected to the city club board and took up the reins of programming, selecting and procuring the high-caliber topics and guests that Newberg City Club prides itself on. (Ann Dolan supported Mike’s efforts and now continues this work as a Board member and programming chairperson, along with Diane Ragsdale.)

Mike lost his battle with pancreatic cancer at age 77. He was surrounded by family.

Newberg City Club Past President Kat Ricker shared a statement on Mike’s passing:

Our club and community mourns the loss of Mike Donahue. We were so fortunate that Mike and Susan chose to move into our community. He radiated his unique kind light everywhere he went and enhanced every endeavor that he took part in. It would have been understandable had Mike spent his golden years simply golfing on the course that was in his backyard, but that wasn’t Mike. Instead, he raised gorgeous roses there, enjoyed the sights and sounds that his backyard provided, and together he and Susan created a home full of art, and lively visits with family and friends.
It was my honor and pleasure to befriend Mike in our years working together in the KOIN 6 News newsroom, and my delight to be able to continue our friendship while working with him on the Board of City Club. Mike’s legacy is unwavering investigative thinking and unflappable kindness. To live brightly with both of these attributes in constant step is marvelous.

Our deepest condolences go out to his loving family and friends.