U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Post

RIP

Sad Day. We had a lot of good times and faced a lot of battles together. The man sure knew how to raise money when the chamber needed it the most!! A legend…

Tom was the type of leader that imprints on you. I had the pleasure of working the first decade of my career under his leadership at the Chamber. One of the stories he used to tell was how he would pass the same bagel cart each morning and place 50 cents at the window to support the vendor but never take a bagel. One morning the owner said ‘bagels are now 75 cents’ (or whatever the new price was) - and so from then on, he placed the new amount each day (again without taking a bagel). He recounted that story as a lesson that you’ll never get more unless you ask for it. I am sure I got details wrong and I don’t tell it with the same panache - but I often think of that when looking for that inner bravado to do something gutsy. Just one of the many ways he imprinted on me. He truly was a force - and he will be missed.

Randy, this is really sad. As you know, Tom worked for Dr. Henry Viscardi for which The Viscardi Center was renewed during my tenure there. Right out of graduate school, Dr. Viscardi had an uncanny knack or finding incredible talent like Tom. He always made time for me and for Disability issues, and you were the great, helpful point person. Everyone ever associated with The Viscardi Center and Dr. Viscardi himself are deeply saddened with Tom's passing and yet filled with gratitude for how magnificently he guided business to appreciate people with disabilities and our contributions to the American way of life.

We have lost a titan of the business community and of the transportation infrastructure world. Like so many of us, Tom touched my life and guided me to grow personally and professionally. What a life well lived!

I am deeply saddened to hear of Mr. Donohue’s passing. He was not only an extraordinary businessman, but also a remarkable friend and family man. His belief in hard work and surrounding himself with smart, talented people was an inspiration to all who knew him. His legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched with his wisdom, generosity, and leadership. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and many friends during this difficult time.

Tom Donohue accomplished a lot of extraordinary things in his life. His achievements have been recognized by heads of state, the world’s largest business alliance, Global CEOs, military Service Chiefs, multiple White House’s and public officials across the aisle, across the nation, and across the world. He was a fierce advocate for the business community and a patriot who loved America and what she stands for. Yet, in my opinion, Tom’s greatest accomplishment is one that is unheard, unseen, and untold. And it is one that will have a rippling effect for years to come. His greatest contribution to our country is the immeasurable impact he made on hundreds of individual leaders, like me. It is Tom Donohue’s legacy of service. And it will be realized for decades to come in the countless contributions of every leader he touched — every corporate executive, every government official, and every nonprofit leader, who he mentored, coached, and supported — with ferocity and dedication. I will miss him.

Such a loss for our community. I was privileged to meet him on several occasions, even in my junior years he was always welcoming, encouraging, and inspiring. He is missed.

It was an honor, a privilege, and a pleasure to know Tom Donohue and get the chance to work for him. He was a larger than life figure, and had a huge impact upon the people and the world around him. I learned more from him than I could begin to describe. RIP Tom Donohue, you will be sorely missed.

I will never forget a leadership lesson TJD taught me by example. I was Chamber staff at the time and while on a trip to Asia I had inadvertently offended an influential local when trying to shield Tom from what I thought was an unwelcome intrusion. He took me aside and said, "you guys are my gladiators and look out for me but I need you to go apologize and set things straight." He could have chewed me out and made me feel terrible for the mistake like so many other people in his position might have done. Instead, Tom assumed good intentions and gave me a chance to fix things. I am forever grateful and loyal to him.