Paul Donovan

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved father, Paul Donovan, who left us on October 2, 2026 at the age of 96. He was a man of humor and wisdom, cherishing every moment spent with his loved ones. He is survived by seven children who will continue to honor his legacy by living their lives with the grace of God.

He was born in Boston, Massachusetts on August 15, 1930 to John and Johanna Donovan, the middle of three children. He was a lifelong Catholic and married for seventy-two years to Elizabeth (Betty) who predeceased him. Together they had eight children, all of whom survive him except Robert Donovan who died at childbirth. Surviving children are Stephen (Virginia), Janet (Pennsylvania), Barbara (New York), Ginger (North Carolina), Jack (Virginia), Donna (North Carolina), and Beth (North Carolina). Paul had two daughters-in-law, five sons-in-law, fifteen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Paul lived his boyhood days in Charlestown, a neighborhood of Boston. He was christened in and attended the Saint Francis de Sales church and elementary school on the top of the famous Bunker Hill. After graduation from Malden Catholic High School, he matriculated at Boston College where he graduated cum laude in 1952.

Simultaneous with college graduation, Paul was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the United States Army, training as a field artillery officer at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. After his marriage to Betty, he was assigned to the 28th Infantry Division in Germany. Subsequent Army assignments included Fort Ord, California; Fort Sill (again); Taegu, Korea; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; New Orleans, Louisiana (where the Army sent him for an MBA at Tulane University); Fort Belvoir, Virginia; Vietnam (battalion commander providing artillery support for the 25th Infantry Division); Carlisle, Pennsylvania (Army War College); and the Pentagon (assignments with the Chief of Staff of the Army and the Joint Chiefs of Staff). After retiring from the Army with the rank of Colonel, Paul worked as a civilian in senior positions in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Army Security Assistance Command.

Paul and Betty moved to Viera, Florida once fully retired. Paul was quite busy with golf, bridge, and volunteer activities. He and Betty were especially active with their local church, as extraordinary ministers of the Holy Eucharist and organizers of the rosary makers group. Paul took on the lead role for the church’s building fund and the design and equipping of the Parish Center. After seventeen years in Florida, Paul and Betty moved to Charlotte, North Carolina to be closer to family. They spent their final years at Aldersgate retirement community enjoying friends and family.

We will celebrate his life on Wednesday, October 14th, 2026 at 1:00 pm with a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church located at 4207 Shamrock Drive. Following the service, there will be a Celebration of Life reception at Aldersgate, Epworth Building Club Room Beginning at 2:30 pm.

Online condolences may be shared at www.McEwenPinevilleChapel.com.