James Michael Donovan was born on October 3, 1942 at Providence Hospital in Washington DC.  He was the oldest child born to John Frances Donovan and Dorothy Elizabeth Ricketts who were 4th generation Washington DC residents. His journey on earth was completed January 30, 2025 after spending the last 6 months battling esophageal cancer.

Michael attended private Catholic schools and was an active acolyte until the end of his freshman yr. He transferred to a public school his sophomore year and attended Oxon Hill High School to participate in sports. During his Jr year, his parents separated and he moved to Florida and stayed with family while finishing out his Jr year at Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville. He decided to return to DC for what should be his Sr year but discovered he had to redo his Jr year due to his credits from FL not transferring and him focusing more on his social life and sports instead of academics.

After completing his Jr yr (for the 2nd time) at Anaicostia High School, he relocated to CA with his father and attended his Sr year at Mountain View High School. He spent his high school years between 5 different high schools!

Michael then attended Foothill Community College and San Mateo Jr College. In 1965 he applied to Stanford and was accepted. But rather than attending, he proudly enlisted the US Army and became a Sergeant within 20 months. He then planned for his career to be with the army with dreams of becoming a General. Dad attended OCS in 1967 and continued to advance as quickly as possible. He volunteered for various service training programs including Army Airborne school and Army Ranger school. While serving in Vietnam as a Unit Commander, his unit was ambushed. He spent several long months in various hospitals recovering from his injuries and although he wanted to stay in the army he was told he would have a hard time advancing because the injuries he had received. He received a medical retirement as a Captain due to these injuries.

Michael decided to again pursue his education and enrolled in Stanford University where he spent over 5 years. Michael married Galynn Hutchings from Lehi, Utah whom he had his only child (Elizabeth) with. They divorced soon after.

Michael had applied for a graduate program but due to PTSD from Vietnam and his recent divorce he decided to take a break from formal learning. Instead, he took a position with the Stanfords athletic department to oversee part of the sailing program. By 1981 he was the assistant director. It is there that he met Sharon Young Williams as she had an office in the same building but was a scuba instructor with the scuba program. They later married December 31, 1985 on the Big Island of Hawaii and made their first home together in Moss Beach CA. Years later they moved aboard one of their boats ultimately settling at a private dock in Petaluma CA where they spent several years together. They later separated but never divorced and remained friends with dad staying aboard the boat and Sharon moving ashore.

From an early age Michael loved the water and was never far from it.  He first became a lifeguard while still in his teens and spent countless hours at the pool until his enlistment. Michael worked hard to overcome his own physical shortcomings from the injuries he received in Vietnam and was proud of the various aquatic certifications he had. He always focused a good amount of energy and interest in water safety. Even with his disabilities, you could often find Michael at a pool teaching various aquatic classes to help   others be safe and instill awareness of aquatic safety or scuba diving somewhere around the world.

Michaels cancer treatment began at the SFO VA hospital but was transferred to the SLC VA system under his daughter's care via AirMed after completing radiation to spend what time he had left surrounded by his family who loves him very much.

Michael was preceeded in death by both parents; a brother in law- (Mike Taylor) and his granddaughter-Shelbie Melissa Fox of Eagle Mountain, Utah. He is survived by his wife (separated)-Sharon Donovan of Petaluma, CA; daughter-Elizabeth Donovan Price (TJ) and grandson Landon James Fox all from Eagle Mountain, Utah; sister- Kathleen West (Dennis) of MD; brother- Patrick Donovan (Diane); nephews-Jason, Jonny, Justin along with their spouses and children all of MD; and various friends who he considered family.

As per dad's wishes, his ashes will be interned at a Veterans Memorial Ceremony at a later date.

We would like to thank everyone who helped take care of dad over the past year as his health took a turn and everyone who helped make it possible for him to come spend his final days at his new home in Utah surrounded by family.  We'd especially like to thank the SFOVA and SLCVA and Applegate Home Health and Hospice for your continued help and support through this entire journey.