William A. Donovan, Retired Brockton Firefighter, 71 years old, of Brockton, died Saturday, March 21, 2009 at the Lahey Clinic, Burlington after a brief illness. A lifelong resident of Brockton, he was a son of the late George and Doris (Sheehan) Donovan. He was the loving husband of Joanne M. (Lirosi) Donovan. Bill had been employed for 34 years as a Brockton firefighter where he enjoyed the comradery of his fellow firefighters and friends. His passion in life was the Brockton Fire Museum where he was a founding member, as well as his belief in saving and preserving the history of the City of Brockton. He was a member of the Bertocci Memorial Club, The Enterprise Club, life member of the Brockton Historical Society and Brockton Fire Museum, member of Bare Cove Fire Museum, Inc., Antique Truck Club of New England, American Truck Historical Society, Old Time Trucks, Antique Truck Club of America and Brockton Retired Police and Firefighters.
He is survived by his son Mark Donovan of Brockton, daughters Christine M. Moore and her spouse Bonnie Souza of Norton, Michelle Ann (Moore) Williams and her husband Michael of Brockton and Jennifer L. (Moore) Bamford and her husband Timothy of Brockton. He was the loving Papa to his four grandchildren P.J. Sowden-Moore, Owen Mark Sowden-Moore, Amanda Mia Williams, and Stephen Paul Bamford. He was the brother of John “Jay” Donovan of Bridgewater, Elaine Cox of West Bridgewater, Michael Donovan of Whitman, Denise Crocker of Centerville, Rosemary Rogan of West Bridgewater, George Donovan of East Bridgewater, Kevin Donovan of Brockton, Gregory Donovan of Brockton, Christopher Donovan of Brockton; and the late James, Bryan “Barney”, and Kerry Donovan and Catherine Pelton. He also leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends and was the son-in-law of the late John and Josephine Lirosi.
Funeral from the Conley Funeral Home, 138 Belmont Street (Rte 123) Brockton, Wednesday at 7:45 am. Funeral Mass in St. Edith Stein Parish/St. Edward Church at 9 am. Burial in Calvary Cemetery. Visiting Hours Tuesday 3-7 pm. In lieu of flowers please consider donations in Bill’s name to the Brockton Fire Museum 216 N. Pearl St. Brockton, MA 02301 or the St. Edith Stein Restoration Fund 71 East Main St. Brockton, MA 02301 or National Kidney Foundation 11 Vanderbilt Avenue Norwood, MA 02062.