We are saddened to share that Elliott Ranney Donnelley, eldest son of Gaylord and Dorothy, passed away Friday, April 11, 2014. Elliott was the first of Gaylord and Dorothy’s children to serve on the board, beginning in 1986 until he became a life director in 2000. He was the brother of board chair Laura Donnelley and the late Strachan Donnelley and father of board vice-chair Shawn Donnelley and her brother Angus Donnelley.

Following in the family tradition, Elliott was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting and fishing. He founded Florida’s Lantana Boat Yard, which built commercial vessels, yachts, and hydrofoils. Indicative of his conservation interests, he designed and built a weed-cutting vessel used for restoring wetlands.

A philanthropist in his own right, Elliott contributed to many organizations, including the National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, and Chicago Youth Centers. Passionate about the Model A, the car in which he learned to drive, in 2013 he donated his personal collection to the Elliott Museum in Florida (no relation) in order to share the story the vehicles tell about American innovation.