Obituary of Ronald James Donovan, Glace Bay

Ronald James “Ron” Donovan Glace Bay It is with sadness, we announce the passing of our father, grandfather and great grandfather, Ronald James Donovan, age 80, which occurred on Monday, March 20, 2017 at the Glace Bay Healthcare Complex. Born in Glace Bay, April 2, 1936 he was the son of the late John James ‘Jack’ and Catherine Kathleen (Nearing) Donovan. Ron worked at No. 26 Colliery for one year and then with Maritime Tel & Tel where he retired in 1989 after 33 years of service. Ron loved sports, hockey and baseball, but especially hockey which he played, coached and managed at the junior and senior levels. He was a member of the 1955-56 Glace Bay “Cinderella” Miners who won the league, Provincial and Maritime Junior Championship. He then played 10 years of senior hockey in Glace Bay before playing with the Sydney Mines Ten Pennies who won the Maritime Championship in 1966-67. He also played with the Bras D’or Lakers who won the Cape Breton Intermediate Championship. He coached the Glace Bay Sr. Miners to a Cape Breton Championship in 1968-69. He also coached the Glace Bay Colts and a number of teams in the Glace Bay Gentlemen’s League in the 1960’s. He played softball with Main Street, Table Head and Caledonia Aces in the 1950’s. Ron served on the board of directors of the Glace Bay Miners Forum and the injured workers society. He volunteered with the Vince Ryan Memorial Hockey Tournament and the 1987 Canada Games in Cape Breton. Twice he was inducted into the Cape Breton Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the G.B. “Cinderella” Miners, and then again as a member of the Sydney Mines Ten Pennies. He was then inducted twice into the Glace Bay Hall of Fame for sports as a member of the G.B. ““Cinderella” Miners, and then as an athlete. Ron is survived by sons, Ronnie and Debbie (Glace Bay), Joe (Kentville), Pat and Cathy (Glace Bay), daughters, Darlene (Glace Bay), Joanne and Steve (Glace Bay), sister in –law, Isabelle Carpenter (Halifax), 13 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Frances (Fricker) Donovan, brother, Lawrence, sister, Ethel Marie Horne and granddaughter, Destinee (Kentville). There are no words to appropriately thank the wonderful caregivers at the VON, palliative care doctors and nurses, along with the staff on 3 South of the Glace Bay Healthcare Complex. Special thanks to Doctor Kent Cadegan and Brenda, Dr. Michael Gallivan, Dr. Stephanie Ellerker and the staff of Heart Function Clinic (CBRH). Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 16 Reserve Street, Glace Bay. A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 23, 2017 in St. Anne’s Church, Glace Bay followed by a reception in the church foyer. Interment will take place in St. Anne’s Cemetery at a later date. Memorial donations in Ron’s memory may be made to the VON or the Hospice Palliative Care Society of Cape Breton. Words of comfort can be sent to the family at: www.vjmcgillivray.ca "Your presence we miss, your memories we treasure, Loving you always, forgetting you never”