Frank E. Donegan, 83, baseball star

Frank E. Donegan of 17 Halpin Lane, a former baseball star who once operated a bookstore in the village, died on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 21, 2003 at Mediplex of Danbury. He was 83 years old and husband of Claire Faulkner Donegan.
Mr. Donegan was born in New York City on Sept. 29, 1919, a son of John and Augusta Mae Donegan. Living in Rosedale, Queens, he attended New York schools and excelled in sports, especially baseball. A contemporary of Mr. Donegan was Phil “Scooter” Rizzuto. The two grew up in the same neighborhood in Queens, and played together on some teams and against each other on others.
In later years, Mr. Donegan attended St. John’s University and was a shortstop for its baseball team. He was signed along with Phil Rizzuto by the New York Yankees. He played on their Kansas City minor league franchise before enlisting in the U.S. Army at the outbreak of World War II
During the war, Mr. Donegan served as a lieutenant in North Africa where he was wounded in combat.
For many years, Mr. Donegan worked for the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey, later known as Exxon.
In 1965 he moved from Long Island to Ridgefield and had operated Bell, Book & Candle, a book and greeting card shop in the Donnelly Shopping Center during the 1960’s and 70’s.
He was active in Little League in the late 1960s and 1970s and was a member of St. Mary’s Church.
Besides his wife of 56 years, Mr. Donegan is survived by two daughters, Priscilla of Danbury and Nancy of Niwot, Colo.; two sons, Robert of New York, N.Y., and Frank of Middleburgh, N.Y.; and six grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, Jan. 27, at 10:30 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church.
Burial will take place in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Friends will be received in the Kane Funeral Home, 41 Catoonah Street, on Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Visiting Nurse Association, 90 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT 06877.