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Donald Francis Flaherty was born in Kentfield, California on June 2, 1918 and grew up in Sacramento, CA. He was the third of five children and the last surviving member of his immediate family with his brothers, William Flaherty, Robert Flaherty; and his sisters Margaret Eiferle and Lillian Hickey preceding him in death. Don often regaled his children and grandchildren with precocious tales of his childhood in Sacramento. He graduated from University of California at Berkeley and joined the United States Army Air Corp where he proudly served in the 415th Nightfighter Squadron in the European theatre during World War II. It was around this time that he met his first wife, Mary Helen Jenkins. Don and Mary Helen had three children, Ana, Edward and Catherine (Riley). As a family, they traveled and lived throughout the world during Don's military career. Both Mary Helen; and his lovely daughter Riley preceded him in death. After Don's retirement from the Air Force he was employed by Hughes Aircraft in 1968. With great providence he met and married Maxine Elizabeth Rorie. She had two children, Steven and Susan, both of whom loved him dearly and considered him to be their father. During and after his retirement from Hughes Aircraft he worked tirelessly as President of the Air Force Association and the Night Fighters Association. He and Maxine had wonderful adventures as they traveled and lived throughout Europe and the United States. Don and Maxine had a total of 13 grandchildren, one of whom died at the age of 14 months, and 16 great-grandchildren. All were loved deeply by their grandparents. Donald Francis Flaherty was an honorable man and a patriot. He was a devout catholic and a member of the Knights of Columbus. A memorial mass has been said for him in Dana Point, California. He never knew a stranger and kept in touch with old friends throughout his lifetime. Don lost Maxine to a stroke in 2005. Don passed away in Taos, New Mexico, under the care of his daughter, Ana, and brother and sister-in-law Wayne and Marjorie Rorie on June 23, 2009.
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