John Claypool Donovan, the son of Walter and Jean Donovan, was born in Elmont, NY. He graduated from Elmont Memorial High School in 1962 and was appointed to West Point to join the Class of 1966 in July 1962. At the Academy, John proved to be highly intelligent and very personable. He possessed a fine baritone singing voice and was an active member of the Cadet Glee Club, as well as also finding time to be in the Audio Club, the Model Builders Club, and the Camera Club. He was quite popular with the ladies, with an easy-going persona and a winsome smile.
After graduation, John joined the Signal Corps and attended both Airborne and Ranger schools, with follow-up assignments in Germany and in Vietnam, where he served in combat with the 82nd Airborne Division. Among other honors, he was awarded the Bronze Star, two Overseas Combat Bars, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and a Presidential Unit Citation.
Following military service, John received his MBA degree from Purdue University. In 1975, he met his wonderful wife, Karen, whom he married in 1977. They enjoyed a 43-year marriage, with three sons: John Jr., Thomas, and Theodore. John worked for 24 years in the communications industry, where he was highly revered for his pioneering work in fiber optics, starting in 1983. He became the general manager in charge of replacing conventional underground cable in Manhattan with fiber optics, and his success in this field enabled him to start Telecom Visions, Inc., an expert-witness and consulting business in 1995.
He became a nationally recognized expert witness before the FCC and 44 state utility commissions.
During this time he also served as commander of the William Bradford Turner Post of the American Legion in Garden City, NY for almost 10 years. He played an instrumental role in many events and accomplishments, including adopting a wing at Northport Veterans Hospital that specialized in veterans with mental disabilities and locating Garden City monuments in the village center, which included a widely publicized re-dedication of the Rainbow Division Monument and the creation of a memorial garden to honor Garden City wartime veterans.
In 2011, John and Karen moved to Palmyra, VA, where he continued his work as an expert witness until his full retirement in 2018.
John passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on August 13, 2020. He is survived by his wife, Karen; their children: John Jr., Thomas, and Theodore; his grandson, Levon; and his brother, Richard. He was interred at the West Point Cemetery. He is remembered as a stalwart classmate, a loving husband, a dedicated and inspirational father, a man who strove for excellence in all that he did, and an open and wonderful friend to all who knew him.