“Good Guys” 4th in a series. The people that have made 40 years in this business worthwhile. Dr. David H. and Ruth M. Donaldson share this tribute.

I met David H. and Ruth M. Donaldson in 1976, when I was just out of college. I was working for an appraiser doing a condemnation appraisal on their land on Route 19 at Johnston Road, Upper Saint Clair, which was being taken by Penndot for road widening. Doctor and Mrs Donaldson, met in WW II. He was a Doctor in the War and she was in the entertainment troops. They lived on Hastings Mill Road on one of the Golf Course Greens adjoining the Saint Clair Country Club in USC. Doctor Donaldson would say, “Nobody ever told Ruth that women are not supposed to break 70!”

Mrs Donaldson was an elegant and beautiful woman. After the War, Doctor Donaldson, who grew up in Canonsburg, set up his medical practice in Ruthfred Acres, Bethel Park. They found after the War that they could not make a living while he was beginning his practice, so Mrs Donaldson would bake and sell pies on consignment.

After the Penndot taking of part of the property, I continued contact with the Donaldson’s. Mrs Donaldson would call me up and I would drive 20 miles each way to sit on their back porch over the green with them and eat pie. The Donaldson’s told me that they wished to retire to Florida and sell the remainder of the property, which was on Route 19 and zoned residential. In trying to sell the property, many potential purchasers came along wishing to undertake having the land rezoned. Their lawyer, would say over and over, “only if there is dough for the option.” He killed many a sale opportunity! Then, one day along came Bill Corace, who described himself as third generation in construction and development and made a excellent impression with his can-do attitude as to the zoning change. It was probably 1978 or 1979, and he said “ I will build something that people who have half-million dollar houses wont mind looking at!” And, of course, he wanted a free option. In that meeting Mrs. Donaldson said “ I think we need a new Lawyer!!” Bill Corace got his zoning and built Summerfield Commons into the terrain and environment. The project went so well that he expanded it into the adjoining property.

The Donaldson’s did move to Old Port Cove in North Palm Beach Florida and belonged to the PGA. When I would travel to Florida to see my parents, I always visited with the Donaldson’s. They would take me to wonderful places like lunch at The Breakers! I would search for some appropriate gift I could give them. I saw the perfect item in a store on Worth Avenue, Palm Beach, a mirrored display tray or mirrored place mat. They were very expensive and I looked in a second store for them. When I asked the salesperson, I was told that I “should go to Burdines.” She was not trying to be helpful !!
I went back to the first shop and bought them. I told Mrs D the story and she said, “On Worth Avenue the salespeople act like they are making a million dollars a year.”

Ruth Miller Donaldson passed away in 2000. The Ruth Miller Donaldson Endowment Fund at the University of Northern Iowa, is divided 50% to students in the Department of Theatre and 50% to the School of Music and provides scholarships for students in need. David Donaldson passed away in 2010 and had been preceded in death by two locally known sisters, Gretchen Donaldson, Attorney & Pittsburgh City Magistrate and Peggy Donaldson, Director of Admissions, Community Service and Annual Fund at Chatham University.

Sanford Pollock (412) 288-9441
pollockrealestateinc@yahoo.com