Donald J. Shanley, Esq.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, Donald J. Shanley, 93, died peacefully on March 25, 2023. Born in Troy on January 26, 1930, he was the third of eight children of the late W. Joseph and Rose (Cavanaugh) Shanley.
Don graduated from Catholic Central High School ’47 and Siena College ’51. He was the first Siena College graduate ever to attend and graduate from Harvard Law School ’54.
Don was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1954 and served in the U.S. Army Field Artillery from 1954 to 1956. With his father, he then founded the law firm Shanley and Shanley in Troy where he practiced for 50 years, later joined by his brother Terence E. Shanley. Don served as an ADA and Public Defender of Rensselaer County and as Deputy Corporation Counsel for the City of Troy. In 2004 he joined Pattison, Sampson, Ginsberg and Griffin, retiring from practice in 2019.
Don was a lifetime member and past president of the Rensselaer County Bar Association and a member of the Saratoga County and New York State Bar Associations.
Don was an avid reader of history, focusing on the Civil War and World Wars I and II as well as the works of Irish author, James Joyce. He enjoyed traveling with his wife, Diane C. Kutey Shanley and together they toured widely throughout Europe. A die-hard Mets fan who also loved summer days at the Saratoga Race Course, Don cherished time spent with family at their camp on Saratoga Lake and at his vacation home in St. John, USVI.
Don is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Diane; daughter, Evanne Shanley (Justin Giron) of Savage, MD; sons, Donald Shanley, Jr. of Wilton; John (Rachel) Shanley of Margate, New Jersey; Stephen (MaryEllen) Shanley of Portsmouth, NH and and by his step-daughter, Christine Simmon (Douglas Boothe) of Arlington, VA. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Andrew (Karissa) Shanley, Meghan Shanley; Mark Thomas (Erin), Greg Thomas (Madeleine); Michael, Matthew, and Catherine Shanley and step-granddaughter, Claire Simmon. And he is further survived by great grandchildren: Juanito and Shanley Malapit-Thomas, Ava Shanley and Wesley Thomas. Don is survived by his brother, Terence (Elizabeth) of Troy. Also surviving are a number of nieces and nephews of the Grennon, McCabe, Shanley, Vavasour and Verdile families. Don was predeceased by first wife, Catherine (Cakouros) Shanley; sisters, Eileen McCabe, Kathryn Vavasour, Bette Ann Grennon and Joan Verdile and his brothers, W. Joseph Shanley, II and Kevin M. Shanley.
Calling hours will be from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Bryce Funeral Home, Inc. 276 Pawling Ave, Troy on Friday, March 31st with a funeral service on Saturday, April 1st at 9:00 am at the funeral home with Rev. Paul M. Carney, officiating.
Interment will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery, Saratoga Springs.
In lieu of flowers, a contribution to the charity of one’s choice in memory of Don may be made and is appreciated. 

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