03/27/2026
Donaldson, Holly A. (nee Augspurger)
March 22, 2026
Beloved Wife of Daniel Donaldson, Loving Mother of Darcy (William Richard) Zacher; Devoted Grandmother of William (Liesl) Zacher, Sommer (Seth) Rowan, Walter, Lawton and Addison Zacher; Cherished Great-Grandmother of Seth G. Rowan, Jr., and Sterling Charles Rowan; Dear Sister of Ann (Nini) Crane Rumsey; Treasured Daughter of the late Charles Holly Augspurger and Dorothy (nee Page) Augspurger; also survived by nieces and nephews. No prior visitation. A Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 4:30 pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 724 Delaware Ave., Buffalo NY 14209. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo at https://cfgbuffalo.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list, Nichols School at https://nicholsadvancement.org/campaigns/nicholsfund25_26, Buffalo Seminary at https://www.buffaloseminary.org/giving/giving or the Elmwood Franklin School at https://www.elmwoodfranklin.org/giving.html Arrangements by The Dietrich Funeral Homes, Inc., 2480 Kensington Ave., Amherst. Online condolences may be shared at www.TheDietrichFuneralHome.com
Obituary for Holly Augspurger Donaldson
1943 – 2026
Holly Augspurger Donaldson, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and committed community leader, passed away in 2026. She was married to Daniel Donaldson and was the loving mother of Darcy (William Richard) Zacher. Holly was a devoted grandmother to William (Liesl) Zacher, Sommer (Seth) Rowan, Walter, Lawton, and Addison Zacher, and a cherished great-grandmother to Seth G. Rowan, Jr. and Sterling Charles Rowan. She was the dear sister of Ann (Nini) Crane Rumsey and treasured daughter of the late Charles Holly Augspurger and Dorothy (nee Page) Augspurger. Holly is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
No prior visitation will be held. Her funeral service will take place on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 4:30 PM at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 724 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, NY 14209.
Legacy of Service and Volunteerism
Holly’s passion for volunteerism shaped Buffalo and Western New York for over five decades. As a Forest Lawn Cemetery trustee from 2003 to 2016, Holly was chairman of the Forest Lawn Heritage Foundation from 2009 to 2016. During her tenure, she worked diligently to initiate a capital campaign aimed at advancing the cemetery’s restoration and preservation efforts, while further establishing Forest Lawn as a significant historical and cultural landmark. The Margaret L. Wendt Archive & Resource Center at Forest Lawn was also established during this period, furthering her commitment to honoring and preserving community heritage.
Her service also included leadership roles with the Children’s Foundation (Vice-Chair, Trustee, Co-Chairman of Allocations Committee), Elmwood Franklin School (Trustee, Vice-President, Co-Chairman, Advisory Board Chairman, Life Member), Junior League of Buffalo (President, President-Elect, member for over 20 years), Child and Family Services Board, Salvation Army Buffalo Advisory Board, Buffalo Chamber of Commerce – Leadership Buffalo, Nichols School, and the City of Buffalo Regional Center II Mayoral Committee.
She played pivotal roles in the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (Marketing Committee, Ball Co-Chairman), Waterfront Performing Arts Facility Committee, Green Downtown Buffalo (Founding Member), Erie County Charter Revision Committee (Vice Chairman), President Gerald Ford’s Re-Election Committee (Advisor), Buffalo Green Fund (Trustee), Erie County Consumer Protection Committee (First Chairman), Landmark Society (Trustee), Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site Foundation (Trustee, Vice President, Restoration Project Chairman), Buffalo in Bloom (Founding Co-Chair), and many additional organizations dedicated to the arts, civic improvement, and community welfare.
Professional Accomplishments
Holly’s career was equally distinguished. She served as Executive Director of the Buffalo Niagara World Trade Center (1997-2000), Capital Campaign Director for the United Cerebral Palsy Association (1995-1997), and President of Advantage Communications of Western New York, Inc. (1994-1996). Her earlier professional roles included Registered Representative for The Legend Capital Corporation, Executive Director for Ned Regan Support Committee, Executive Secretary at Buena Vista Film Company/Walt Disney Productions, and VIP Guide for Walt Disney Productions/New York World’s Fair.
Educational Achievements
Holly graduated with an Associate of Arts from Bradford Junior College in 1963, earned her Bachelor of Science cm laude from the State University College at Buffalo in 1989, and completed the Certified Financial Planner Professional Education Program from the College for Financial Planning, Denver, Colorado in 1993.
Awards and Honors
• 2018 Red Jacket Award Recipient
• 2000 National Society for Fund Raising Executives
• 1996 The National Conference, Brother/Sisterhood Award
• 1995 Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Woman of the Year
• 1992 Junior League of Buffalo, Susan Reid Greene Russell Award
• 1983 Empire of America, FSA, Volunteer Activist Award
• Nominated in 1984 for the President’s Volunteer Action Award
• Named Volunteer Activist of 1983 by the United Way Voluntary Action Center
Enduring Impact
Holly served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Community Foundation of Buffalo & WNY, organized the foundation’s 75th anniversary celebration, and was instrumental in establishing the 21st Century Fund to support major strategic initiatives for the region. On her 50th birthday, friends honored her by creating the Holly Augspurger Donaldson Fund, which will continue to benefit the community for generations.
She leaves behind a legacy of service, leadership, and compassion, having touched countless lives through her dedication to volunteerism, philanthropy, and civic engagement. Holly Augspurger Donaldson’s contributions will forever be remembered in Buffalo and beyond.
