James "Don" Donald McKinney

James Donald "Don" McKinney, age 89, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Thursday, April 30, 2026. He is survived by his adoring (and adored) wife of 48 years, Stephanie Patricia "Patsy" McKinney; his seven loving children, James Donald McKinney, Jr. (Susan), John McKinney (Kristin), Kathleen Liston (Alex), Karen Werstil (Rodd), Mary McKinney Flaherty (Mark), Stephanie McKinney Galecke (Andy) and Elizabeth Kramer (Kelly); and 15 grandchildren, Timothy (Maria), Matthew (Helena), Ryan, Aidan, Adam, Owen, Amelia, Olivia, Zachary, Bridget, Dylan, Jack, Gavin, Charlie and Liam.

Don was born on June 25, 1936, in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, the only child of James Milton McKinney and Jean Donnelly McKinney. He graduated from Wilkinsburg High School in 1954, served in the Air National Guard, and attended the University of Miami until his father fell ill and he left school to return home to help manage his family’s business.

In 1976, he met the love of his life, Patsy, and they spent nearly 50 beautiful years together filled with family, friends, travel, and true joy. Don lived his life filled with gratitude, and until his last hours, he never let an interaction pass without saying how thankful he was and never failed to tell his wife and his children how much he loved them. He met the world with curiosity about everything and respect for everyone, always working to ensure that each person he encountered felt valued.

In business, he worked alongside his uncles for several years until their retirement, after which he expanded the company into a successful real estate investment and development firm with more than 100 employees and spanning 13 states. A builder at heart and a consummate planner, Don was especially proud of the culture he established — one grounded in integrity, professionalism, and hard work — which continues to define the organization today.

Throughout his career, Don was known not only for his business accomplishments but for the respect and loyalty he both earned from and gave to those who worked alongside him. He was active in the company well into his 70s and remained a mentor and strong influence on the current generation of leadership, in whom his legacy lives on.

Outside of family and career, Don loved the game of golf. He was an accomplished player, built numerous lifelong friendships through and around golf, and lived his life by the game's core values of honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, perseverance, and fairness. He maintained a low single-digit handicap for much of his life, and he loved competition. His list of golf achievements included numerous tournament victories, highlighted by winning the 2001 Pennsylvania Golf Association (Group C) Senior Open. He spent many happy, and some occasionally frustrating, hours on the courses at Edgewood and Oakmont and felt lucky to be able to travel with Patsy and friends to play many of the game's great courses.

Don's family is deeply thankful to Brandi, Bill, Candice, Beth, Renee, Mary Ann, Carol, Christina, Trinity, and Meghan, whose kindness and devoted care meant so much to him over the past several years, and to the wonderful team on the 7th floor of the Pavilion at UPMC Shadyside, who looked after him with such compassion in his final days.

Friends and family are invited to a visitation at WOLFE MEMORIAL, LLC, Forest Hills Chapel, 3600 Greensburg Pike, Pittsburgh, PA 15221, on Friday, May 8, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Burial in Allegheny Cemetery will be private to Don's family.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in Don’s name to the scholarship fund he and Patsy established at the Duquesne University Nasuti College of Osteopathic Medicine (https://www.spirit.duq.edu/project/30761/donate); to First Tee - Pittsburgh to support youth in growing and developing through the game Don so loved (https://firstteepittsburgh.org/donate-2); or to Shadyside Hospital Foundation in gratitude for the care provided to him (https://shadysidehospitalfoundation.org)

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.