Story posted Friday, May 22, 2009
Prospect Hts. Loses Former Alderman
By DENISE FLEISCHER Lifestyle Editor
Robert Francis Donovan, a Prospect Hts. alderman in the late 80's, and a member of the Des Plaines Elks Club and the China Marines Association, died on May 16.
Mr. Donovan was born Nov. 1, 1927 in Owosso, Michigan, to Andrew and Anne Donovan. He served in the Marine Corps during World War II. He was a 1952 graduate of Hillsdale College and a vice president of the American National Bank in Chicago for 27 years. He was president of the American Institute of Banking and was also named "Citizen of the Year" of Prospect Hts. in the 1990's.
According to his wife, Jinny, he was a social butterfly who adored his children and nine grandchildren.
"We were married 57 years. We met at Hillsdale College on a blind date, but we weren't each other's dates. We had a wonderful marriage because our sense of humor made it work," said Mrs. Donovan.
Donovan loved college football. He was a big Northwestern College fan who had season tickets for years.
After retirement in 1983, he was an escort at Northwest Community Hospital, where he wheeled patients to various departments. He also enjoyed writing letters to the editor of a number of city papers.
"He had very definite opinions on political issues," said his wife.
His daughter, Kerry, serves as village president of Glenview and his son just published a book on the family.
He is survived by his wife, Jinny; his children, Mark (Jeannette) Donovan and Kerry (Rick) Cummings; his grandchildren Drew (Kristen), Ross, Luke, Jake and Cortney Donovan and Charlie, Tim, Anne and Doug Cummings and by many nieces and nephews.
Visitation was Thursday, May 21 and services will take place Friday, May 22, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Glueckert Funeral Home, Arlington Hts., and Saturday, May 23, from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. at St. David's Episcopal Church in Glenview.
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