William E. Donaldson Obituary
William E. Donaldson, 74, of Gloucester, passed away on Saturday evening, June 24th surrounded by his loving family. He was the devoted husband of Cynthia Cafasso Donaldson. Born in Boston on December 27, 1948 and raised in Cambridge, Bill was the son of the late John and Mary (Doyle) Donaldson.
Bill was a graduate of Northeastern University and Suffolk Law School. He was one of the first in-house hospital lawyers in Massachusetts and served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Northeast Health System for 25 years until his retirement in 2012. As such, he served as counsel to the CEO, Board of Trustees, the medical staff and hospital staff. He was responsible for corporate affairs, governance, board and committee processes, licensure, compliance, risk management and nonprofit charitable oversight. He led a reorganization of the corporate structure, which significantly enhanced the governance efficiency of the Northeast Health System. His development and management of a captive insurance company was an important contribution to the organization and a marker of his lasting professional impact.
Admitted to practice before the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, Bill was also admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States District and Appeals Courts, and the United States Tax Court. Bill was one of nine lawyers selected to serve on Attorney General Harshbarger's task force to develop Anti-Trust Guidelines for Healthcare.
His professional activities included serving as Chairman of the Board (1990-1993) and Director (1990-1997) of the Massachusetts Healthcare Self Insurance Group, membership in the American Health Lawyers Association and the Massachusetts Bar Association Health Law Council.
Bill found great fulfillment in his time spent working alongside colleagues in healthcare – he deeply respected the skill, compassion, and care that every healthcare worker showed towards their patients and patients' families. He was honored to help support the delivery of meaningful, quality healthcare to his community.
Personally, Bill was a World War II history buff. He also enjoyed working in his home and yard in East Gloucester and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.
In addition to his wife Cindy, he is survived by his daughter Sarah Ortins, her husband Brian and their children Caroline, Samantha, and William; and his son Andrew Donaldson, wife Katy and their children Abigail and Sadie. He is also survived by his sister Isabelle Perkins and husband Wayne, sister Jane Donaldson and husband Tim Bliamptis, and sister Rosemary Donaldson and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his first wife, Claire.
His visiting hours will be held on Thursday, June 29th from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester. Family and friends are cordially invited. His funeral mass will be celebrated in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church on Friday at 9:30 a.m. The burial will be at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions in his memory to Our Lady of Good Voyage Church Bell Tower Restoration, 142 Prospect Street, Gloucester, MA 01930.
