DONOVAN, William F. "Bill" of Woburn, formerly of Somerville, passed away on the morning of March 3, 2012, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 70 years old.
Born on December 13, 1941, "Bill" was known as a quick-witted student, a tenacious athlete, and an avid sports fan. He attended St. John's High School in Cambridge, MA, and then served in the United States Marine Corps. (1959-1963). There he met and married his wife of 49 years, Frances K. (Giel) Donovan with whom he had five children: Maureen Raboin, William F. Donovan Jr., Kathleen, Brian and Margaret “Peg.”
Following service in the Marine Corps, Bill began working for Polaroid Corp during the emergence of the invention of instant photography. Bill advanced quickly during his 19 years at Polaroid where he began sweeping floors, became a chemical researcher, and was elected Chairman of the Polaroid Employee Committee.
He would continue in various Senior Management positions then onto founding his own Consulting/Recruitment Firms, acting as a H.R. Executive for several Fortune 500 Corporations. Bill also wrote numerous papers and had spoken widely regarding the topic of employee and H.R. strategies in the job market. Enjoying music, social gatherings, organizing a celebration, Bill was the co-founder of the Irish American Club of Woburn.
He was proud of his Irish Heritage, a devoted family person, honored deeply to have served as a U.S. Marine, and for being a citizen of this Country. Bill leaves a legacy of outstanding friendships who will attest to his loyalty, generosity, often humorous affirmation of life.
In addition to his wife and children Bill was a devoted father in law to Joseph Raboin, a cherished grandfather of Christopher, Stephanie, Kimberly, Meghan, Nolen, John, Matthew, Sarah and Callie, a loving great grandfather of Madison, dear brother of Noreen Gamst, Helen Branagan and her late husband John, John Donovan, Laurence Donovan and his wife Roberta. Preceding him in death were his beloved sisters, Mary Lahait and Maureen.
Funeral from the Barile Family Funeral Home, 482 Main St. (RT 28) STONEHAM Thursday at 9am followed by a Funeral Mass Celebrating William’s Eternal Life in St. Patrick Church, 71 Central St. Stoneham at 10am. Family and friends are cordially invited to gather and share remembrances with the Family on Wednesday from 3-7pm in the Funeral Home. Parking attendants will be available. Interment with Military Honors will take place at St Patrick’s Cemetery, Stoneham.
Please honor William by making donations in his memory to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute c/o Dr. Peter Enzinger’s Reasearch Fund 450 Brookline Avenue #D-1220 Boston, MA 02215.