John J. "Jackie" Donovan, 78, one of Buffalo's leading boxers in the 1930s and early 1940s, died Sunday (Nov. 16, 1997) in Our Lady of Victory Hospital, Lackawanna. A resident of Aurora Nursing Home, East Aurora, he had been ill for several years.
A popular athlete, he also was a talented cartoonist and worked for many years for the Postal Service.
TD
Born in Buffalo, he grew up in the Hydraulics section of the Old First Ward, attending St. Monica's School and South Park High School.
Like his boxing brothers, Bob and Dick, he learned to box in the Babcock Street Boys Club at the age of 14, training under Billy Williams.
His first amateur match in 1935 pitted him against Paul Columbo, who had been Buffalo's Golden Gloves flyweight champion for five years. Within two bouts, the quick-footed Donovan took Columbo's title and went on to become Niagara District AAU champion.
His early successes inspired sportswriter Charlie Bailey to dub him "The Irish Imp," making him a public figure at the age of 16. He often was compared to the legendary Jimmy Slattery, and his popularity was enhanced by his good looks, wit and engaging personality.
Donovan won amateur and professional championships in every weight division from flyweight to heavyweight during his brief career. In his amateur years, he won 45 out of his 47 AAU and Golden Gloves bouts and held 34 Golden Gloves championships. He reversed both losses on appeals.
Donovan claimed his greatest thrill as an amateur was his victory over Jimmy Bivins, who later became interim world heavyweight champion while Joe Louis was serving in World War II. Turning professional in 1938, Donovan was New York State welterweight champion a year later and helped support his family with his prize money.
As a pro, he won 21 of 28 fights, with three draws. Boxing in Madison Square Garden, he defeated a number of leading contenders, including Andre Jesserun, "Irish Eddie" Dolan, Ralph Gizzy, Jerry Fiorello and Canadian champion Tommy Bland.
Inducted into the Army at the start of World War II, he became base champion immediately and in 1942, while on duty in North Africa, won the first Allied European Boxing Tournament.
He served on the intelligence staff of the Army's 12th Troop Carrier Squadron and was the unit's official artist. He wrote and illustrated a cartoon history of the squadron and drew for Yank magazine during the war.
In 1944, the Army chose him to represent the United States in an exhibition match against British pro boxer Harry Mizler, the Royal Air Force champion. Donovan received considerable press coverage for this match, including feature articles in Ring magazine.
After the war, he grew angry with mismanagement in professional boxing and quit the ring. He became a postal clerk and continued to draw, paint and cartoon.
"His retirement was a real loss to boxing," said Ed Cudney, curator of the Buffalo Boxing Museum and a friend of Donovan's for seven decades.
"He was one of the best fighters I've ever seen," Cudney added. "He was a great, great boxer, a fine soldier, a good friend and a very good man. He would have been world champ if he hadn't gotten out of the ring. No doubt about it."
Survivors include a son, Robert; two daughters, Deborah Blizniak and Margaret; three brothers, Robert of Tampa, Fla., James and Thomas; four sisters, Margaret Sprada, Edna O'Neil, Gladys Manning and Helen Donovan; and three grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 65 Ridgewood Road. Prayers will be said at 9 in Ray O'Connell Funeral Home, 2286 South Park Ave. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Lackawanna. {Anderson}.
A popular athlete, he also was a talented cartoonist and worked for many years for the Postal Service.
TD
Born in Buffalo, he grew up in the Hydraulics section of the Old First Ward, attending St. Monica's School and South Park High School.
Like his boxing brothers, Bob and Dick, he learned to box in the Babcock Street Boys Club at the age of 14, training under Billy Williams.
His first amateur match in 1935 pitted him against Paul Columbo, who had been Buffalo's Golden Gloves flyweight champion for five years. Within two bouts, the quick-footed Donovan took Columbo's title and went on to become Niagara District AAU champion.
His early successes inspired sportswriter Charlie Bailey to dub him "The Irish Imp," making him a public figure at the age of 16. He often was compared to the legendary Jimmy Slattery, and his popularity was enhanced by his good looks, wit and engaging personality.
Donovan won amateur and professional championships in every weight division from flyweight to heavyweight during his brief career. In his amateur years, he won 45 out of his 47 AAU and Golden Gloves bouts and held 34 Golden Gloves championships. He reversed both losses on appeals.
Donovan claimed his greatest thrill as an amateur was his victory over Jimmy Bivins, who later became interim world heavyweight champion while Joe Louis was serving in World War II. Turning professional in 1938, Donovan was New York State welterweight champion a year later and helped support his family with his prize money.
As a pro, he won 21 of 28 fights, with three draws. Boxing in Madison Square Garden, he defeated a number of leading contenders, including Andre Jesserun, "Irish Eddie" Dolan, Ralph Gizzy, Jerry Fiorello and Canadian champion Tommy Bland.
Inducted into the Army at the start of World War II, he became base champion immediately and in 1942, while on duty in North Africa, won the first Allied European Boxing Tournament.
He served on the intelligence staff of the Army's 12th Troop Carrier Squadron and was the unit's official artist. He wrote and illustrated a cartoon history of the squadron and drew for Yank magazine during the war.
In 1944, the Army chose him to represent the United States in an exhibition match against British pro boxer Harry Mizler, the Royal Air Force champion. Donovan received considerable press coverage for this match, including feature articles in Ring magazine.
After the war, he grew angry with mismanagement in professional boxing and quit the ring. He became a postal clerk and continued to draw, paint and cartoon.
"His retirement was a real loss to boxing," said Ed Cudney, curator of the Buffalo Boxing Museum and a friend of Donovan's for seven decades.
"He was one of the best fighters I've ever seen," Cudney added. "He was a great, great boxer, a fine soldier, a good friend and a very good man. He would have been world champ if he hadn't gotten out of the ring. No doubt about it."
Survivors include a son, Robert; two daughters, Deborah Blizniak and Margaret; three brothers, Robert of Tampa, Fla., James and Thomas; four sisters, Margaret Sprada, Edna O'Neil, Gladys Manning and Helen Donovan; and three grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 65 Ridgewood Road. Prayers will be said at 9 in Ray O'Connell Funeral Home, 2286 South Park Ave. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Lackawanna. {Anderson}.
John J. "Jackie" Donovan, 78, one of Buffalo's leading boxers in the 1930s and early 1940s, died Sunday (Nov. 16, 1997) in Our Lady of Victory Hospital, Lackawanna. A resident of Aurora Nursing Home, East Aurora, he had been ill for several years.
A popular athlete, he also was a talented cartoonist and worked for many years for the Postal Service.
TD
Born in Buffalo, he grew up in the Hydraulics section of the Old First Ward, attending St. Monica's School and South Park High School.
Like his boxing brothers, Bob and Dick, he learned to box in the Babcock Street Boys Club at the age of 14, training under Billy Williams.
His first amateur match in 1935 pitted him against Paul Columbo, who had been Buffalo's Golden Gloves flyweight champion for five years. Within two bouts, the quick-footed Donovan took Columbo's title and went on to become Niagara District AAU champion.
His early successes inspired sportswriter Charlie Bailey to dub him "The Irish Imp," making him a public figure at the age of 16. He often was compared to the legendary Jimmy Slattery, and his popularity was enhanced by his good looks, wit and engaging personality.
Donovan won amateur and professional championships in every weight division from flyweight to heavyweight during his brief career. In his amateur years, he won 45 out of his 47 AAU and Golden Gloves bouts and held 34 Golden Gloves championships. He reversed both losses on appeals.
Donovan claimed his greatest thrill as an amateur was his victory over Jimmy Bivins, who later became interim world heavyweight champion while Joe Louis was serving in World War II. Turning professional in 1938, Donovan was New York State welterweight champion a year later and helped support his family with his prize money.
As a pro, he won 21 of 28 fights, with three draws. Boxing in Madison Square Garden, he defeated a number of leading contenders, including Andre Jesserun, "Irish Eddie" Dolan, Ralph Gizzy, Jerry Fiorello and Canadian champion Tommy Bland.
Inducted into the Army at the start of World War II, he became base champion immediately and in 1942, while on duty in North Africa, won the first Allied European Boxing Tournament.
He served on the intelligence staff of the Army's 12th Troop Carrier Squadron and was the unit's official artist. He wrote and illustrated a cartoon history of the squadron and drew for Yank magazine during the war.
In 1944, the Army chose him to represent the United States in an exhibition match against British pro boxer Harry Mizler, the Royal Air Force champion. Donovan received considerable press coverage for this match, including feature articles in Ring magazine.
After the war, he grew angry with mismanagement in professional boxing and quit the ring. He became a postal clerk and continued to draw, paint and cartoon.
"His retirement was a real loss to boxing," said Ed Cudney, curator of the Buffalo Boxing Museum and a friend of Donovan's for seven decades.
"He was one of the best fighters I've ever seen," Cudney added. "He was a great, great boxer, a fine soldier, a good friend and a very good man. He would have been world champ if he hadn't gotten out of the ring. No doubt about it."
Survivors include a son, Robert; two daughters, Deborah Blizniak and Margaret; three brothers, Robert of Tampa, Fla., James and Thomas; four sisters, Margaret Sprada, Edna O'Neil, Gladys Manning and Helen Donovan; and three grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 65 Ridgewood Road. Prayers will be said at 9 in Ray O'Connell Funeral Home, 2286 South Park Ave. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Lackawanna. {Anderson}.
A popular athlete, he also was a talented cartoonist and worked for many years for the Postal Service.
TD
Born in Buffalo, he grew up in the Hydraulics section of the Old First Ward, attending St. Monica's School and South Park High School.
Like his boxing brothers, Bob and Dick, he learned to box in the Babcock Street Boys Club at the age of 14, training under Billy Williams.
His first amateur match in 1935 pitted him against Paul Columbo, who had been Buffalo's Golden Gloves flyweight champion for five years. Within two bouts, the quick-footed Donovan took Columbo's title and went on to become Niagara District AAU champion.
His early successes inspired sportswriter Charlie Bailey to dub him "The Irish Imp," making him a public figure at the age of 16. He often was compared to the legendary Jimmy Slattery, and his popularity was enhanced by his good looks, wit and engaging personality.
Donovan won amateur and professional championships in every weight division from flyweight to heavyweight during his brief career. In his amateur years, he won 45 out of his 47 AAU and Golden Gloves bouts and held 34 Golden Gloves championships. He reversed both losses on appeals.
Donovan claimed his greatest thrill as an amateur was his victory over Jimmy Bivins, who later became interim world heavyweight champion while Joe Louis was serving in World War II. Turning professional in 1938, Donovan was New York State welterweight champion a year later and helped support his family with his prize money.
As a pro, he won 21 of 28 fights, with three draws. Boxing in Madison Square Garden, he defeated a number of leading contenders, including Andre Jesserun, "Irish Eddie" Dolan, Ralph Gizzy, Jerry Fiorello and Canadian champion Tommy Bland.
Inducted into the Army at the start of World War II, he became base champion immediately and in 1942, while on duty in North Africa, won the first Allied European Boxing Tournament.
He served on the intelligence staff of the Army's 12th Troop Carrier Squadron and was the unit's official artist. He wrote and illustrated a cartoon history of the squadron and drew for Yank magazine during the war.
In 1944, the Army chose him to represent the United States in an exhibition match against British pro boxer Harry Mizler, the Royal Air Force champion. Donovan received considerable press coverage for this match, including feature articles in Ring magazine.
After the war, he grew angry with mismanagement in professional boxing and quit the ring. He became a postal clerk and continued to draw, paint and cartoon.
"His retirement was a real loss to boxing," said Ed Cudney, curator of the Buffalo Boxing Museum and a friend of Donovan's for seven decades.
"He was one of the best fighters I've ever seen," Cudney added. "He was a great, great boxer, a fine soldier, a good friend and a very good man. He would have been world champ if he hadn't gotten out of the ring. No doubt about it."
Survivors include a son, Robert; two daughters, Deborah Blizniak and Margaret; three brothers, Robert of Tampa, Fla., James and Thomas; four sisters, Margaret Sprada, Edna O'Neil, Gladys Manning and Helen Donovan; and three grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 65 Ridgewood Road. Prayers will be said at 9 in Ray O'Connell Funeral Home, 2286 South Park Ave. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Lackawanna. {Anderson}.
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