Donald Putnoi grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He moved to Boston with his wife Fran Putnoi more than forty years ago so that he could attend medical school in ophthalmology. Soon after, the couple joined Temple Israel and in 1998, Fran became the first woman to serve as its president. The couple became active in the movement for Soviet Jewry through their involvement with the Temple and their friendship with Rabbi Bernard Mehlman. They took part in one of the missions he organized and also helped resettle newly arrived immigrants.