Richard Patrick Donovan
Richard Patrick Donovan, loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away on April 19th in Corvallis, Oregon, at home with his wife Jeanny and his children, Hilary and Patrick. An energetic and vibrant 70-year-old, he had been diagnosed with cancer a few months earlier. Rich was a larger-than-life, funny, smart and irreverent Irishman. He spent his life serving people who were otherwise unseen and in need of care. He was well known for a compassionate spirit and quick wit. He spoke the truth to those more fortunate and comfortable when others remained silent. Rich was the first of eight children, born Nov. 10, 1949, to the late Richard Patrick Donovan, Sr. and Renee Mary Graff Donovan in Omaha, Nebraska. His career began there at Boys Town. As a young man, Rich moved to Idaho to continue working in Social services, including child protection, in Lewiston, Twin Falls and Boise. He served six years as statewide director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, overseeing a broad array of public services and facilities to meet the needs of vulnerable citizens and to protect natural resources. Rich treated everyone he met with respect, from mail clerks to the governor. He was always approachable, with an uncanny ability to put people at ease in conversation on any topic. He developed a passion for political history and stayed abreast of politics on a global level, an interest his parents encouraged from an early age. He might have watched every World War Ii documentary ever made. On the lighter side, Rich loved music of the Big Band Era and from the ‘60s. Anything newer wasn’t worth listening to, so he thought. He loved to dance and had a beautiful singing voice, heard by few. He enjoyed his weekly “Old Man’s” yoga class at Fitness over 50, with the comfortable companionship. Rich was a lifelong fan of baseball and was always disappointed when the season came to an end. He was a pitcher in his youth and an expert discussing the history and in