Very Rev. Anthony Pizzo, O.S.A. Appoints New St. Rita High School President

The Very Rev. Anthony Pizzo, O.S.A. appointed Deacon John Donahue, J.D., Ed.D. as St. Rita of Cascia High School’s new President. Deacon John, as he is called, had been Interim President since mid-April. Fr. Pizzo said, “In the appointment of Deacon John, we have found a person with proven leadership abilities, excellent academic credentials, and demonstrated educational experience, all combined with a pastoral perspective to serve as our new President.”

Donahue has more than 30 years of professional leadership experience in education and strong civic and religious ties in the community. He began his career as an apprentice electrician and worked through the ranks to become the Director at IBEW-NECA Technical Institute in Alsip. He later served as Executive Director of Powering Chicago and most recently as a principal of his consulting firm, Donahue Consulting Group. His firm specialized in fostering collaborative labor-management relations, solving human resource issues, developing, and implementing effective organizational change models, and advancing ethical leadership styles for executives.

Donahue has earned multiple degrees including a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Xavier University, a Juris Doctor degree from UIC/The John Marshall School, and his Doctor of Education from Roosevelt University.

Most recently, Donahue completed his Diaconal Studies from the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary and was ordained a Deacon at Holy Name Cathedral in May 2015. He also served as a Chaplain at Palos Health/Northwestern Medicine where he attended to the spiritual needs of ill and suffering patients while providing comfort to their family members. Donahue has been married to his wife of 40 years Eileen, and they have four adult children and three granddaughters.

Full story here: https://www.stritahs.com/news/st-rita-of-cascia-high-school-announces-new-president-deacon-john-donahue-jd-edd