6 minute read
The Donnellys: Lovin' Their Busy Broomall Life
Resident Feature by Liz Burnett
Photos courtesy of Sierra Clark Photography www.SierraClarkPhoto.com
During a recent “pit stop” in between their comings and goings, the Donnellys graciously shared with us the then-and-now details of their lives. These fun-loving folks were a delight to get acquainted with!
(left to right) Mike, Matt, Allison and Deb Donnelly
Photo courtesy of Sierra Clark Photography www.SierraClarkPhoto.com
Mike Donnelly grew up with his parents and three younger brothers in Springfield. He attended St. Francis of Assisi parish school, and then Archmere Academy. Mike earned a B.S. in Secondary Education from Villanova, and a Master’s degree in Instructional Leadership from Penn State. For 23 years, he has taught 7th-graders at Phoenixville Middle School: Math for 16 years, and Public Speaking for the last 7 years.
Deb Donnelly grew up in Gaithersburg, MD with her parents and older sister. After high school there, she moved to Media and started taking courses full-time at Penn State Brandywine while she also worked full-time as Manager of a store in the Springfield Mall. In 1995, when Deb was interviewing to hire an all-new staff for the store’s Christmas season, she interviewed and hired Mike. (Deb and Mike laughed as she said “And I’m still his boss!”)
By December 1999, their romance was blossoming. Deb then graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing, and started working for a Bala Cynwyd investment firm where she has enjoyed working ever since. Mike and Deb got engaged that same month, and in December 2000, they got married at Villanova University’s Chapel.
Eight years and two kids later, when the Donnelly Family had outgrown their home in King of Prussia and they looked for a larger home near Mike’s mom in Springfield, they were thrilled to find their current home in Broomall. The pool in the backyard and Mike’s summers off from teaching allow for lots of fun when their kids invite friends over to cool off on hot summer days.
Matt and Allison Donnelly
Mike and Deb’s oldest, their daughter Allison, attended Worrall Elementary School and Paxon Hollow Middle School. She’s now a 9th-grader at Marple Newtown High School. Until this school year, she was an active Girl Scout in a troop Deb led for many years. Allison participates on her school’s and community’s basketball, softball and field hockey teams, and has even made several all-star teams. Her favorite school team sport is field hockey because it gives her so many opportunities to bond with her teammates. She also sings in the MNHS Chorus, and looks forward to the fun that group will have on their upcoming trip to Disney World. Allison is considering a career as a Pediatric Nurse because she loves being around and helping kids.
Deb and Mike’s son Matt also attended Worrall Elementary School, and is now in 7th grade at Paxon Hollow. He’s on a Sproul Lanes summer youth bowling team with Allison and their friends from another Marple family. Matt’s also on community baseball and basketball teams, and on his school’s soccer team. His favorite sport is soccer, and his skill level qualified him to play on a soccer travel team this year. He’s looking forward to his first season playing indoor travel soccer this winter. Matt played trumpet in school bands for three years, and was selected to play with students from other local schools in the PA Music Educators Association (PMEA) band.
Broomall has proven to be the perfect community for The Donnellys. For many years, Mike has enjoyed volunteering to coach youth baseball (MTLL), softball (NSPL), basketball (MNBA) and soccer (MNSA) teams Allison and Matt have been on. As their father, Mike is grateful for the many hours they’ve spent together. And as an educator who’s seen first-hand that kids who play team sports do better in school, he’s grateful that Marple Township provides this excellent way for parents to get involved with their kids, get to know their kids’ friends on those teams, and meet other parents who share similar parenting values.
Since Mike was a kid, he’s been in the annual Spring musical put on by the St. Francis Players. That parish ministry for adults and children has fostered fellowship and community involvement in theatre and the fine arts since 1960. Mike has served as SFP President for over 15 years. He introduced Deb to this theatrical ministry back in 2000, and together they introduced Allison and Matt at an early age to the fun and team effort involved in those musical productions. “For several months each year, we get to spend a lot of quality time together. We all look forward to it!” Deb said. Her parents, who live in Plymouth Meeting, enjoy coming to see the shows. Mike and Deb have invited several Marple families to join the Players group, making their Broomall-Springfield connection even stronger.
(left to right) Deb, Matt, Allison and Mike Donnelly, jumping for Joy in this Christmas season!
The Donnellys also enjoy family vacations, and have fond memories of their several trips to Disney World and a trip to Disneyland in California. They’ve also had fun vacationing a few times in the Outer Banks with several Marple families. Mike’s three brothers still live near enough to enjoy their Phillies season tickets and frequent get-togethers at a family-shared house in Ocean City, NJ. Those gatherings are always lots of fun for Allison, Matt and their six Donnelly cousins.
In Deb’s spare time, she enjoys working out at home, taking local exercise classes, and walking with Mike in their hilly Marple neighborhood. Mike bowls Thursday nights at Sproul Lanes in a men’s league. He also volunteers as the “Bingo Caller” at Worrall PTO fundraisers. And several times every summer, he organizes Marple, Springfield and family group nights to the Phillies.
The Donnellys have all learned that teaching, theatre performances, and sports teams all have one thing in common: There’s no PAUSE button; the “show” must go on. These experiences led them to adopt and share this positive perspective about life:
A perfect example is how their planned one-hour family canoes and kayaks ride at the Delaware Water Gap in the Poconos turned into a rather miserable and even a bit scary four-hour series of unexpected delays. They all scrambled after one of their kayaks overturned, and they ended up with three of them in Mike’s canoe and Deb towing a kayak behind the one she was paddling. And they hadn’t even reached the halfway point!
The Donnellys’ laughter as they now tell that (mis)adventure story shows just how adventuresome and resilient they all are. Perhaps their courage and ability to accept whatever happens knowing they did their best comes from years of performing on stage, teaching and coaching kids, and lots of event planning. One thing’s for sure: The Donnellys feel very blessed by their busy Broomall and Marple community life.
Do you know a neighbor who has a story to share?
Nominate your neighbor to be featured in one of our upcoming issues! Contact us at LBurnett@BestVersionMedia.com.
