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Donnellan has served the county and countless veterans as chief of the Veteran's Agency for 30 years. He is taking a medical leave effective immediately until he retires.
Donnellan is a three-time Purple Heart recipient and Vietnam War veteran who has shown generations of returning members of the service that they can live productive lives – even if they suffered devastating injuries as he did.
"Jerry Donnellan has given tirelessly to this county and this country. We can never thank him enough for all of his contributions," Day said. "If anyone deserves a peaceful retirement, it's him."
Donnellan is a lifelong Rockland resident who grew up along the Hudson River in Nyack before the first Tappan Zee Bridge was built.
He served in the Army in Vietnam and was honorably discharged after losing a limb in combat in 1969. He spent more than a year recovering and undergoing rehabilitation.
When he completed his rehabilitation, he worked as a stage manager with Frank Sinatra and traveled all over the world.
Day praised him for his many contributions as director of the Veterans Agency, which include starting the annual watchfires every Memorial Day.
Donnellan also oversaw the creation of the county's first satellite Veteran's Administration health clinic, located in New City.
He has worked tirelessly both with veterans and their families to educate them about post-traumatic stress disorder and to reduce the stigma attached to treatment.
"His door has always been open to any veteran who needed help," Day said.
No successor has been named.
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