Brian Donovan took great pride in his family, to an extent that wasn't fully known until after he died unexpectedly December 11, 2010.
While rooting around photographs and other materials to prepare for the funeral services, his brother-in-law found files that Mr. Donovan kept, charting the accomplishments of his clan.
"He kept every newspaper clipping of his nieces and nephews, dated it, made a note of it and filed it away," said the brother-in-law, Tim White. "No one knew he was doing this. It was unbelievable to find."
Mr. Donovan's wife, Kimberly, said her husband also kept folders bursting with articles on his father, Tom Donovan, who served as patronage chief for Mayor Richard J. Daley and later ran the Chicago Board of Trade.
White summed up Mr. Donovan, 49, like this: "His friends and family — that's what he put his pride in."
Although he had been living in Western Springs — where he spent years helping coach his kids' sports teams — Mr. Donovan also retained a great affection for Bridgeport, the historically Irish South Side enclave where he was raised, along with the Daley family.
Born in 1961, Brian grew up in Nativity of Our Lord Parish — and met his future wife in kindergarten. He attended high school at De La Salle Institute and went to St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana for undergraduate studies. He later earned a law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Mr. Donovan worked at the Illinois attorney general's office, the law firm formerly known as Mayer, Brown & Platt and, most recently, the utility giant ComEd, where he was a manager in regulatory compliance.
Despite his professional success, he remained a "neighborhood type of guy" who maintained close ties to his roots, relatives said.
Among other things, he'd still get together with pals and shoot baskets at the Hamburg Athletic Association.
"He always liked the local taverns, where you walk in by yourself but always know somebody there," his wife said.
For 20 years, Mr. Donovan, his brother and some old friends had a permanent tee time on Sundays at Gleneagles Country Club in Le-mont, where he went by the nickname "Birdie Bri." His golf group also traveled to Myrtle Beach, S.C., to swing clubs for Mr. Donovan's birthday, June 9.
"He loved bringing different groups of people together, like friends from grammar school to friends that you meet as an adult," his wife said.
Recently, he had back trouble and developed blood clots while laid up, according to his family.
He died from resulting complications, they said.
ComEd executive Frank Clark released a statement calling Mr. Donovan "a very dedicated family man" who "treated everyone with thoughtfulness and respect."
In addition to his wife, Mr. Donovan is survived by a daughter, Riley; sons Daniel and Conor; his parents; five siblings and half-siblings, and his grandmother.
Services have been held.
While rooting around photographs and other materials to prepare for the funeral services, his brother-in-law found files that Mr. Donovan kept, charting the accomplishments of his clan.
"He kept every newspaper clipping of his nieces and nephews, dated it, made a note of it and filed it away," said the brother-in-law, Tim White. "No one knew he was doing this. It was unbelievable to find."
Mr. Donovan's wife, Kimberly, said her husband also kept folders bursting with articles on his father, Tom Donovan, who served as patronage chief for Mayor Richard J. Daley and later ran the Chicago Board of Trade.
White summed up Mr. Donovan, 49, like this: "His friends and family — that's what he put his pride in."
Although he had been living in Western Springs — where he spent years helping coach his kids' sports teams — Mr. Donovan also retained a great affection for Bridgeport, the historically Irish South Side enclave where he was raised, along with the Daley family.
Born in 1961, Brian grew up in Nativity of Our Lord Parish — and met his future wife in kindergarten. He attended high school at De La Salle Institute and went to St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana for undergraduate studies. He later earned a law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Mr. Donovan worked at the Illinois attorney general's office, the law firm formerly known as Mayer, Brown & Platt and, most recently, the utility giant ComEd, where he was a manager in regulatory compliance.
Despite his professional success, he remained a "neighborhood type of guy" who maintained close ties to his roots, relatives said.
Among other things, he'd still get together with pals and shoot baskets at the Hamburg Athletic Association.
"He always liked the local taverns, where you walk in by yourself but always know somebody there," his wife said.
For 20 years, Mr. Donovan, his brother and some old friends had a permanent tee time on Sundays at Gleneagles Country Club in Le-mont, where he went by the nickname "Birdie Bri." His golf group also traveled to Myrtle Beach, S.C., to swing clubs for Mr. Donovan's birthday, June 9.
"He loved bringing different groups of people together, like friends from grammar school to friends that you meet as an adult," his wife said.
Recently, he had back trouble and developed blood clots while laid up, according to his family.
He died from resulting complications, they said.
ComEd executive Frank Clark released a statement calling Mr. Donovan "a very dedicated family man" who "treated everyone with thoughtfulness and respect."
In addition to his wife, Mr. Donovan is survived by a daughter, Riley; sons Daniel and Conor; his parents; five siblings and half-siblings, and his grandmother.
Services have been held.
Brian Donovan took great pride in his family, to an extent that wasn't fully known until after he died unexpectedly December 11, 2010.
While rooting around photographs and other materials to prepare for the funeral services, his brother-in-law found files that Mr. Donovan kept, charting the accomplishments of his clan.
"He kept every newspaper clipping of his nieces and nephews, dated it, made a note of it and filed it away," said the brother-in-law, Tim White. "No one knew he was doing this. It was unbelievable to find."
Mr. Donovan's wife, Kimberly, said her husband also kept folders bursting with articles on his father, Tom Donovan, who served as patronage chief for Mayor Richard J. Daley and later ran the Chicago Board of Trade.
White summed up Mr. Donovan, 49, like this: "His friends and family — that's what he put his pride in."
Although he had been living in Western Springs — where he spent years helping coach his kids' sports teams — Mr. Donovan also retained a great affection for Bridgeport, the historically Irish South Side enclave where he was raised, along with the Daley family.
Born in 1961, Brian grew up in Nativity of Our Lord Parish — and met his future wife in kindergarten. He attended high school at De La Salle Institute and went to St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana for undergraduate studies. He later earned a law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Mr. Donovan worked at the Illinois attorney general's office, the law firm formerly known as Mayer, Brown & Platt and, most recently, the utility giant ComEd, where he was a manager in regulatory compliance.
Despite his professional success, he remained a "neighborhood type of guy" who maintained close ties to his roots, relatives said.
Among other things, he'd still get together with pals and shoot baskets at the Hamburg Athletic Association.
"He always liked the local taverns, where you walk in by yourself but always know somebody there," his wife said.
For 20 years, Mr. Donovan, his brother and some old friends had a permanent tee time on Sundays at Gleneagles Country Club in Le-mont, where he went by the nickname "Birdie Bri." His golf group also traveled to Myrtle Beach, S.C., to swing clubs for Mr. Donovan's birthday, June 9.
"He loved bringing different groups of people together, like friends from grammar school to friends that you meet as an adult," his wife said.
Recently, he had back trouble and developed blood clots while laid up, according to his family.
He died from resulting complications, they said.
ComEd executive Frank Clark released a statement calling Mr. Donovan "a very dedicated family man" who "treated everyone with thoughtfulness and respect."
In addition to his wife, Mr. Donovan is survived by a daughter, Riley; sons Daniel and Conor; his parents; five siblings and half-siblings, and his grandmother.
Services have been held.
While rooting around photographs and other materials to prepare for the funeral services, his brother-in-law found files that Mr. Donovan kept, charting the accomplishments of his clan.
"He kept every newspaper clipping of his nieces and nephews, dated it, made a note of it and filed it away," said the brother-in-law, Tim White. "No one knew he was doing this. It was unbelievable to find."
Mr. Donovan's wife, Kimberly, said her husband also kept folders bursting with articles on his father, Tom Donovan, who served as patronage chief for Mayor Richard J. Daley and later ran the Chicago Board of Trade.
White summed up Mr. Donovan, 49, like this: "His friends and family — that's what he put his pride in."
Although he had been living in Western Springs — where he spent years helping coach his kids' sports teams — Mr. Donovan also retained a great affection for Bridgeport, the historically Irish South Side enclave where he was raised, along with the Daley family.
Born in 1961, Brian grew up in Nativity of Our Lord Parish — and met his future wife in kindergarten. He attended high school at De La Salle Institute and went to St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana for undergraduate studies. He later earned a law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Mr. Donovan worked at the Illinois attorney general's office, the law firm formerly known as Mayer, Brown & Platt and, most recently, the utility giant ComEd, where he was a manager in regulatory compliance.
Despite his professional success, he remained a "neighborhood type of guy" who maintained close ties to his roots, relatives said.
Among other things, he'd still get together with pals and shoot baskets at the Hamburg Athletic Association.
"He always liked the local taverns, where you walk in by yourself but always know somebody there," his wife said.
For 20 years, Mr. Donovan, his brother and some old friends had a permanent tee time on Sundays at Gleneagles Country Club in Le-mont, where he went by the nickname "Birdie Bri." His golf group also traveled to Myrtle Beach, S.C., to swing clubs for Mr. Donovan's birthday, June 9.
"He loved bringing different groups of people together, like friends from grammar school to friends that you meet as an adult," his wife said.
Recently, he had back trouble and developed blood clots while laid up, according to his family.
He died from resulting complications, they said.
ComEd executive Frank Clark released a statement calling Mr. Donovan "a very dedicated family man" who "treated everyone with thoughtfulness and respect."
In addition to his wife, Mr. Donovan is survived by a daughter, Riley; sons Daniel and Conor; his parents; five siblings and half-siblings, and his grandmother.
Services have been held.
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