Deborah B. Donnelly, 62, journalist and columnist from Roxbury, died unexpectedly Wednesday at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York following heart surgery. She was the wife of Sean James Donnelly, Vice President of The House of Burgundy, Inc. and active member of the Roxbury community. They were married for nearly 40 years. Donnelly was born in Bridgeport on January 8, 1945, daughter of the late Judge and State Senator J. Kenneth Bradley and the late Ina Trivers Bradley, a writer and civic leader. She grew up on Long Island Sound in Westport and later settled in Ridgefield with her husband in the late 1960s where she was a dedicated volunteer in the community. She served as president of the Ridgefield Women's Committee and a member of the Ridgefield Garden Club. Donnelly's journalistic career spanned more than 30 years. Her opinion columns were published by the New York Times and the Hartford Courant and she was a feature writer for Women's World magazine and Executive Magazine. Donnelly wrote editorials on a regular basis for the Westport News and in 1981 she became the daily editorial writer for the Greenwich Time. Donnelly later assisted in the startup of a new publication called the Greenwich News and acted as editorialist and columnist. More than 20 years ago, Deborah and her family moved to Roxbury where she worked as managing editor of the Litchfield Enquirer, building it from a 12-page paper to a 32-page newspaper over five years. Donnelly received several New England Press Association awards while at the Litchfield Enquirer and later during her years as managing editor of Town Times in Watertown. Donnelly was the first woman initiated into the Litchfield Rotary Club and was a member of the First Artillery Regiment as their military correspondent. She also produced her own weekly interview show called, Around Town with Deborah Donnelly, for Cable 5.
In the 1990s, Donnelly was an editor for Patent Trader, a Westchester County, NY newspaper and then managing editor of The Heritage Villager in Southbury.
Most recently, Donnelly reported for Country Life, a special supplement to the Waterbury Republican-American. Her column, My Word, which focused on life and the people in Litchfield County, was published for nearly ten years by the Sunday Republican. Donnelly's affection for her community was visible as she served as on the Roxbury Volunteer Recognition Committee, Republican Town Committee and was museum trustee for the Roxbury Historical Society.
Donnelly is survived by her daughter, Amy K.D.Tobik of Winter Springs, FL and two grandchildren whom she adored, Katie and Emily. She is also survived by her brother, James Peters Bradley of Fairfield, her sister Bonnie Bradley of Roxbury and preceded in death by her sister Mary Lou Colby of FL.

Memorials: Charity of the donor's choice.

Location: Munson-Lovetere Southbury

Funeral: St. Patrick's Church

Services: A memorial service is scheduled for March 10 at 10: 00 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church in Roxbury. Burial will be private in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Roxbury

Visitation: No calling hours