David James Donovan
January 13, 1931 – May 26, 2023
David James Donovan passed away in New London Hospital on May 26, at the age of 92.
Dave was born on January 13, 1931, in Providence, RI, to John Christopher Donovan and Helen Murray Donovan. After graduating from Dartmouth in 1953 with a degree in economics, he went to naval officer training school and became a navy pilot, flying missions in the South Pacific. While stationed in Coronado, California, he married his high school sweetheart, Cynthia Hillery.
After Dave left the navy, he and Cynthia settled in Manchester, CT, and had three girls. Dave began a career in finance with Travelers Insurance and earned an MBA from UConn. In 1966 the family moved to Morristown, NJ, where Dave worked for Schering Plough before joining a division of Thomson CSF, eventually becoming its CFO.
Retirement brought Dave and Cynthia to Blaisdell Lake in Sutton, NH, and then to Highland Ridge in New London. An avid sportsman, Dave enjoyed tennis and sailing and golfed and skied into his 90s. He was also a tournament bridge player who achieved bronze life master status at age 91.
Dave liked a good Manhattan and was a connoisseur of fried clams, assigning ratings to clam shacks around New England.
But his greatest passion was his family. At Blaisdell Lake, he and Cynthia created the ideal family gathering spot. He loved spending time with his grandsons, teaching them to ski at Sunapee and taking them water skiing, tubing, and golfing in the summer. His nightly cocktail cruise for adults was not to be missed.
Dave loved a good competition, especially the Friends & Family ski weekend and race at Sunapee, which he organized for over 30 years. In most years his carefully curated “super seniors” team would win the race under his somewhat controversial handicapping system.
He was predeceased by his parents, his brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Jacqueline Donovan, and his sister and brother-in-law, Pat and George Williams.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Cynthia Donovan; his daughters, Kim Henley (and husband Joe), Pamela Gehret (Jake), and Susan Donovan; and his four grandsons Rob Henley (and wife Sarah and great grandsons Walter and Jack); Jack Henley; Sam Gehret; and Tom Gehret; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Dave’s life will be held at Lake Sunapee Country Club in New London on Thursday, June 29, from 4 to 6 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Chapin Senior Center in New London or the Blaisdell Lake Protective Association.
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