Quick Facts
Biography
James H. Donovan (November 12, 1923 – August 31, 1990) was an American businessman and politician from New York.
Life
He was born on November 12, 1923, in Holland Patent, Oneida County, New York. He grew up on a farm in Marcy. During World War II he served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He engaged in the contracting business in Washington Mills. He married Esther Moretti, and they had seven children.
He was a New Hartford Town Councilman in 1962 and 1963; and Supervisor of the Town of New Hartford in 1964 and 1965. He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1966 until his death in 1990, sitting in the 176th, 177th, 178th, 179th, 180th, 181st, 182nd, 183rd, 184th, 185th, 186th, 187th and 188th New York State Legislatures. He was Chairman of the Committee on Education from 1977 to 1990.
He died on August 31, 1990, at his home in Chadwicks, a hamlet in the Town of New Hartford, New York, of colon cancer.