[1] Born in Lynn, Massachusetts, Donnelly graduated from Boston University and moved to Seattle in 1964 as a Ford Foundation management fellow to work with the fledgling Seattle Repertory Theatre as the first managing director and later as producing director,[2] during his 21-year tenure.
[6] In honor of his retirement, the ArtsFund created the Peter F. Donnelly Merit Fund for Arts Endowments.
[7] Donnelly is credited with being instrumental in the building of the Seattle Repertory Theatre's Bagley Wright Theater and the development of the Building for the Arts program, a primary funding source for Seattle's Benaroya Hall, Intiman Theater, Seattle Children's Theatre, as well as 150 other arts facilities.
[9] Donnelly also served on the board of directors for the Frye Art Museum, the 5th Avenue Theatre, the University of Washington School of Drama Advisory Committee and Classic KING-FM Radio Station.
Donnelly died on March 28, 2009, a week after being diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer[10] and is survived by his partner, David Farrar, of Seattle as well as two sisters.