After the game on 27 October, Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry delivered the ball to Cheryl and Meghan at the Donovan farm in Hinckley Township.
Jim Donovan, the longtime radio play-by-play announcer for the Cleveland Browns, passed away on 26 October at the age of 68 following a lengthy struggle with cancer.
Highlights
- Jim Donovan met Cheryl in 1988 at the old Arcade in downtown Cleveland, where she worked at a barber shop on the third floor.
- Early in their marriage, the couple lived in Westlake. Cheryl and their daughter Meghan, who now works in the University of Akron’s sports information department, loved horses.
- Jim and Cheryl’s journey took a challenging turn 11 years later after their marriage when Donovan received his first diagnosis of leukemia.
Before the 27 October game started, a moment of silence was observed as Jim Donovan’s face appeared on the video board.
“Jim, you will always be a Cleveland Brown,” echoed throughout the stadium.
Donovan dedicated nearly 40 years to broadcasting in Cleveland. He joined WKYC in 1985 after an agent discovered him on another anchor’s resume tape.
At the time, he was in Burlington, Vermont, dreaming of returning to Boston, where he had crossed paths with Howard Stern at their college radio station.
But Cleveland and his wife, Cheryl, captured his heart. They celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary in June.
Jim Donovan Fell For Cheryl Donovan When She Was Cutting Jim Hooley’s Hair
Donovan met Cheryl in 1988 at the old Arcade in downtown Cleveland, where she worked at a barber shop on the third floor.
His best friend, Jim Hooley from WKYC, was particular about his hair and used to have Cheryl cut it.
That day, Donovan and Hooley were on a mission to find green ties for a St. Patrick’s Day show.
Hooley told Donovan to meet him at the Arcade staircase or the barber shop if he wasn’t there.
When Donovan arrived, he found Cheryl cutting Hooley’s hair, which was the day he met her. They got married the following year in 1989.
Early in their marriage, the couple lived in Westlake. Cheryl and their daughter Meghan, who now works in the University of Akron’s sports information department, loved horses.
They spent much time caring for and riding their horses at the stables. Eventually, they decided to buy a property where they could keep them.
Donovan recalled how Cheryl showed him a 12-acre hay field and drove him around in a golf cart while discussing building a home and a barn.
At first, having grown up playing street hockey in Boston, he didn’t quite understand her vision.
But Cheryl, with her passion and determination, designed a beautiful place they could call home.
As they settled in, Donovan helped nurture their two horses and a third one they boarded at the barn.
The property was a peaceful escape, surrounded by green hills and the sounds of chirping birds.
When Cheryl shared a cover photo of her barn on Facebook, many commented on how serene and peaceful it appeared.
I would buy that picture to hang in my house! It’s so beautiful !
Dawn Liebenguth
Well, Cheryl Donovan is originally from Strongsville, Ohio, where she attended Strongsville High School.
Jim Donovan’s Wife Cheryl Donovan Stood By Him Throughout His Cancer Treatment
Jim and Cheryl’s journey took a challenging turn 11 years later after their marriage when Donovan received his first diagnosis of leukemia.
Throughout his battle with leukemia, Donovan emphasized how much Cheryl had been his rock.
“Cheryl has been a rock through all of this. When it happens to you, you’re stunned. You just don’t know what to think or say. You need someone in the room with you to ask questions, to listen … and to be your advocate.”
Jim Donovan
Cheryl supported her husband throughout his cancer treatment.
Once, she expressed heartfelt gratitude for Dr. Hilliard Lazarus, one of the world’s leading oncologists, as he retired from the University Hospitals of Cleveland.
She wished him the best in retirement and thanked him for saving her husband Jimmy’s life.
Additional Information
- On May 25, 2011, during the 11 PM newscast, Donovan announced he had leukemia for ten years and would take a leave of absence for a successful bone marrow transplant.
- On May 31, 2023, Donovan shared that his leukemia had relapsed and he would be undergoing chemotherapy treatment again.
- Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Donovan grew up cheering for the local sports teams in the area.
