Donna L. O’Grady—daughter, sister, partner, stepmother, fierce and loyal friend to so very many, bon vivant, artist, mentor, explorer, sailor, adventurer of the first order—passed away in her home in Hoboken on April 5, 2022, surrounded by her family. She was 60.
Those who knew Donna understood that she was restless: never one to let the grass grow under her feet, eager not to waste a moment of life. She had an infectious spirit, collecting friends, allies and stories wherever she went, in return sharing her own tales and holding a space for those who wanted to join in the journey in one way or another.
Predeceased by her father, Martin F. O’Grady and her stepfather, Richard N. Dagle, Donna leaves many to remember her and mourn her passing: her love and life partner, Steve Snider, her stepchildren Eric (and his wife, Elizabeth, and their children, David, Olivia and Ruby), Madeline and Peggy (and her husband, Brian, and their son Harry); her mother, Frances June Dagle; her sister, Patricia O. Galperin and her husband Allan; her brother Marty and his wife Brenda, and their children Jessie, Stefanie, Kevin and Sean (and his wife, Meghan, and their children Reagan and Colton); her faithful and much-loved dog, Asher, and friends near and far. Most have a handful of good friends; Donna had a multitude. They are simply too numerous to name here, but were nevertheless considered by Donna to be family.
An active and beloved member of the Hoboken artist community, Donna supported other artists and encouraged others to do the same. She had her studio at the famed Neumann Leather Building, a space she shared with her dear studio-mate, Owen Gray, and her artist friends and family.Donna began her artistic journey at a young age, painting from the time that she was growing up in Jersey City, as a teenager at Manchester Regional High School in North Haledon, and into her early adult years in Ringwood. She studied at the Arts Student League and School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. Donna often painted in oils, on location and en plein air. Her work was varied, and continued to develop and transform over the years as she pushed herself to continue learning in workshops and online classes, and experimented with various techniques and styles. The common thread throughout was Donna’s desire to share her experiences of places she had been and her fascination with light and depth. Donna’s work was selected for numerous shows in the area, including two solo shows at the Hoboken Historical Museum and a solo show at the Hoboken Public Library, numerous collaborative group showings with Hob’Art Gallery Monroe Center, as well as a showing at the Watchung Arts Center and the Art Fair 14C Juried Show.
Donna was an avid traveler, crossing the globe for work and pleasure. She built a successful career in the financial services industry as a Product Manager at Fiserv, from which she retired in 2019. Donna particularly loved to sail and adored boating life, an enthusiasm she shared with family, friends, and perfect strangers that would inevitably become friends. She navigated the waters in the Caribbean, Thailand, the Jersey Shore and around Stuart, Florida, where she and Steve anchored their catamaran, Peregrine, and lived for part of the year. Her home port always was, and will be, Hoboken.
The wake will be held at Failla Memorial Home in Hoboken on Sunday, April 10 from 2:00 to 6:00 pm. Food, drink, and a showing of Donna’s art will follow at the Hoboken Historical Museum on the waterfront from approximately 6:30 to 8:30 pm. The funeral service will begin at promptly at 10:30AM those attending should arrive at the Funeral Home no later then 9:30AM. Followed by the burial service at Holy Name Cemetery in Jersey City.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Donna O’Grady to Weill Cornell Medicine, Dr. Eleni Andreopoulou, Breast Cancer Research. Checks can be mailed to Tom Nichols, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, Box 314, New York, NY 10065. Gifts may also be made on-line at: give.weill.cornell.edu.