James P. Donovan

Donovan, James P.  -  of Somerville, passed away on Sunday, November 9th after a very courageous battle with cancer.  He was 66 years old.  Beloved and cherished husband of Rita Lally Donovan, with whom he shared 32 wonderful years.  Jimmy was the loving son of the late Daniel J. Donovan, Captain, Somerville Fire Department and the late Katherine A. (Noonan) Donovan.  Dear brother of Kathleen Muxie and her husband John, Mary Corcoran and her husband Robert, Margaret Palmer and her husband Brian, Daniel Donovan and his wife Donna, John Donovan and his wife Molly and the late Elaine Cooney.  

Jimmy was the loving uncle of Brigid, Kathleen, Ryan, Dan, Kate, Billy, Darcy, Danny, Sarah, Matthew, Brandy, Emma, Brian, Mairead, Allison, Laura, Thomas, Ann, Jack, Nora and the late Susan and Bobby.  Jimmy is also survived by many great nieces, nephews, cousins and the most wonderful friends.

Raised in the Winter Hill section of Somerville, Jimmy attended St. Ann Catholic School.  He was a proud altar boy, played Little League, Pop Warner Football, Babe Ruth and played in the legendary Street Hockey games with homemade hockey nets created by his sister, Kathy.  On any given day, you could find Jimmy playing pick up basketball at Dugger Park, in West Medford or any other park in Somerville or Cambridge. After St. Ann’s School, Jimmy moved on to Matignon Catholic High School, in Cambridge.  He started on the varsity football team as a freshman.

With his tenacity and athleticism, he had a successful four years of football, while at Matignon.  Jimmy played lacrosse and football in college at Boston State and completed his degree at UMass Boston.

No one could deny that Jimmy was an intense, dedicated Celtics, Pats, B’s and Sox fan.  He spent so many hours at the C’s games in the old Garden.  He found his way into a private party along Causeway St., after a C’s game with none other than Larry Bird himself.

Jimmy casually told Larry “you need to shoot more to the left.”  Larry, clearly annoyed, said, “who is this guy?

Jimmy then wound up in The ‘86 Celtics Documentary film, with his good friend Phil.

A Letter Carrier for 38 years at the Arlington Post Office, Jimmy made so many lifelong friends while there.  The APO was a second family to him.  He made it his personal mission to look out for and protect any carriers who were not from the area.  He was a heavy support to the NALC Branch 34 Union.  He always made himself available to J.T. McMahon and Jerry McCarthy, both previous NALC Union Presidents, in any way, in order to assist and/or be of support.

Jimmy was a co-founder of DAAC Advocacy, where his time was spent reviewing individual educational plans, school evaluations/reports for students with disabilities.  He was a major support in preparing cases to be heard at the Bureau of Special Education Appeals and for Mediation preparation.

Lastly, Jimmy was an animal lover, an artist, a fantasy baseball/football player (started in 1993 before it became popular) a lover of all kinds of music, especially the SKA scene, The English Beat, The Specials, The Selecter and finally, a lover of his large baseball card collection which kept him busy on days that he wasn’t watching a sports game on Tv.  A prolific reader, a lover of the ocean waves and spending long days in the summer sun, on Ogunquit Beach, in Maine.  Lastly, Jimmy was a proud, devoted friend of Bill’s for 38 years.  

Jimmy will be greatly missed by all who loved him.  He was certainly one of a kind, as he was a true gem. 

Relatives and friends are invited to Calling Hurs in the George L. Doherty Funeral Home, 855 Broadway (Powder House Sq.) Somerville on Thursday, November 20th from 4:00PM ~ 7:00PM and to a Funeral Mass celebrated in St. Raphael Church, 512 High Street, Medford on Friday, November 21st at 11:00AM. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be in Jimmy’s name, James Patrick Donovan to the following:

Mass Advocates for Children

25 Kingston Street, #2F

Boston, Massachusetts 02111

https://www.massadvocates.org/