Richard M. Donovan

Richard Michael Donovan (Rick, Richie, Capt Rick, Dad, PopPop) passed away peacefully on August 17, 2016 at Hanover Hill Center, Manchester, NH after a valiant 10-month battle with Glioblastoma (brain cancer) at the age of 77.
Rick was born in Boston, MA on June 6, 1939. He graduated from Natick HS, in Natick, MA, leaving his senior year to head to California, where he enlisted in the United States Air Force. Rick was then sent to Syracuse University's School of Language where he became an expert in spoken and written Russian. His military career ultimately placed him at a listening post in Berlin, Germany as a Russian translator.
Rick originally thought about staying in the Air Force longer to learn to fly, but when offered Vietnam as a place to learn, he opted out. Upon returning to the States, he used his GI Bill to obtain his multi engine pilot rating during the day while being a Natick police officer at night. He would joke that he had the only cruiser with a 60-watt bulb to study his flight manuals.
He began his aviation career with Executive Airlines, followed by his beloved Air New England, where he could fly his favorite bird, the Convair 580. After deregulation and the demise of ANE, he traveled to Texas to learn to fly the DC9 with Emerald Airlines. Again, he picked up and went to Michigan to fly the DC 9 with Best Airlines. After a battery of tests, both physical and mental, he got a break and landed with Republic Airlines (where he met Herman the Duck). Rick began living out of a suitcase based in Detroit, Minneapolis and Memphis, flying the DC 9 with many friends from his past and making new life long friends. He experienced a lot of deadheading and reserve, but he stuck it out! Republic Airlines then merged with Northwest Airlines and it was with Northwest (now Delta), flying international trips on DC10s, that Rick finished his flawless career.
Rick loved flying, reading, fishing, cooking, NASCAR and being a PopPop. He was a flight instructor who loved to share his passion for flying and teaching. He was always found with a book in his hand. In fact, his dream of becoming a pilot came from an early read by Ernest Gann called Fate is the Hunter, a memoir describing his years working as a pilot from the 1930s to 1950s. As for cooking, Rick was a "foodie" before it was trendy. Julia Child was his go-to for recipes and he would often speak in her voice as he prepared his gourmet meals. He loved seafood, especially lobster, and sweets such as German black forest cake, rum raisin ice cream and the dark chocolate marzipan, a treat he would bring home from Europe to share with his girls. Rick said that he obtained his sweet tooth and desire to bake from his German grandparents who were bakers just down the road from Parker Hill. He never tired of watching any and every cooking show with his daughters (whom he affectionately called "F.L." and "Boo") at his side. When it came to auto-racing, no one would dare change that channel! He would even record the races if he missed them while flying. Rick loved to watch the speed and the masterful maneuvering done by the drivers. His love of fishing started with his boyhood summers growing up on Manomet Beach. As a happy-go-lucky, always smiling, beach-tanned boy, he learned to lobster by dropping pots off a small boat and there began his love of boats and fishing. Even as much as he loved fishing, as he was fighting for his life, he softly said that he loved flying more than fishing.

Even with all his interests and talents, being a PopPop was truly the highlight of his life! As a pilot, before FaceTime, email and texting, it was difficult to be a part of your children's lives. Sometimes he'd be gone 9 days at a time, missing holidays, dance recitals, skating competitions, first days of school, skinned knees, and lost teeth. However, as a PopPop, Rick was able to play Barbies for hours under the direction of his granddaughter Sophie whom he had lived with his last 4 years of his life with her parents and new brother in Hooksett, NH. He enjoyed seeing Hunter come home just 4 months ago. He was able to attend dance recitals, and FaceTime anytime he wanted with his 3 precious Florida granddaughters Ella, Audrey and Emery. He shared firsts with them, held them, watched movies with them, all while building heartfelt, joy-filled memories. He was there to walk both Faith and Myla down the aisle and waited for and held many babies. He was blessed to see his granddaughter, Hollie, and her two boys, Noah and Sebastian, and share in their lives once he traded in the cockpit for the comfort of his favorite recliner. These last years have given him cherished memories to take to heaven along with beautiful memories for his daughters their families and all those he has touched. In his final days, he said that he wanted to be known for being a PopPop, a Pilot and a Quiet Birdman. He said, with a smile, that he loved the 580 best, then the DC 9 and 10.
Recently his most proud moment was when he was made a member of the QBs (Quiet Birdman), a group of experienced and respected pilots. He was very excited to be made a member, but he was too sick to go and this group decided to make him a member and came to him. It was an honor. He had spoken about this special group for many years, never thinking he would one day become a member. He was so grateful.

Rick is survived by his strong, unconditionally loving daughters, Faith Donovan Floyd and Myla Donovan Welshons, and their supportive and loving husbands, K. Eric Floyd and Christopher M. Welshons. He enjoyed his 6 precious grandchildren even up to his last hours. They are Sophie, age 7, and Hunter, age 4 months (Welshons) and Ella, age 4, Audrey, age 3, and Emery, age 9 months (Floyd). Rick also leaves his granddaughter Hollie (Holliebear) Varga and her husband Tim and his great grandsons, Sebastian and Noah. "Richie," as his family referred to him, leaves two brothers: his eldest brother Joseph (Joe and his wife Jody), older brother Paul and Paul's ex-wife Michelle. Paul and Richie loved to travel together and shared a very close bond. They traveled across the U.S., following every railroad bridge and major train track and also toured Europe together. Paul flew up during Richie's final days and sat next to him from morning to night to be with his brother and best friend. This final trip would be alone, but guided with love. Rick also leaves longtime friends, Brenda Donovan and her husband Paul Seidenberg, Capt. Ed Sprinkle and Capt. Wes Lundqvist. He leaves the many flight crews whom he sat 35,000 feet up in the sky, witnessing the beauty of nature while trusting and taking care of each other. He leaves the ground crews that helped keep him safe over the years, all his friends from Germany, the Monet paintings in Paris, and all those who saw his smile and returned one. Rick leaves many family and friends through his life's journey, and we say God Bless.

Rick is preceded in death by his beloved Mother Helen (Waible) Donovan who passed when Richie was 16 in 1955. He was always happy to hear he looked most like his mom. His father, Joseph Donovan, passed away in Natick, MA in April 1981. Richie lost his youngest brother, Navy Hospital Corpsman Thomas (Tommy) S. Donovan at age 22 on June 3rd, 1968, as a causality of war in South Vietnam. Sadly, Richie would have to identify his brother's remains once home.

On the evening he passed, the moon was full, and the skies were CAVU (clear and visibility unrestricted). Capt. Rick's last solo flight was to heaven, and it was a clear shot with no holds, delays or turbulence in route. He needed no baggage and didn't have to pass customs to fly through those pearly white gates where we are sure your mother awaits. Hugs and kisses were surely waiting for you from Tommy, Uncle Freddy, Auntie Sister Marie to start, as well as from all of those waiting in heaven that you have given a part of your heart. Godspeed and God Bless from those of us here. We will always remember you. Positive rate, Gear up!

Memorial donations may be made to Hanover Hill Center, 700 Hanover St., Manchester, NH in memory of Richard M Donovan. The family of Rick, especially Faith and Myla, wish to thank Hanover Hill and especially Olya, Rick's Russian nurse, whom he would converse with in perfect Russian. Also, thank you for the loving care given by Jennifer whom he truly cared for and made sure she was on when he decided to head on his last flight. Bless you all.

The next time you look up into the sky, know that he is seeing the beauty of the world just the way he loved seeing it, from above the clouds. Rest in Peace, Captain Richard Donovan. Amen.

A celebration of Rick's life will be held on Monday, August 22, 2016 from 5-7pm the chapel at the Cremation Society of New Hampshire, 243 Hanover St, Manchester, NH, 03104. A Mass will be on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at 10am at St. Marie's Catholic Church, 378 Norte Dame Ave., Manchester, NH, 03102. Burial will be immediately following the Mass at Mount Calvary Cemetery, 474 Goffstown Rd, Manchester, NH, 03102.