Peter Donovan

Waltham – Mr. G. Peter Donovan, the longtime head of Waltham's Middlesex Human Service Agency, died Saturday, February 7, 2015 at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston. He was 73.

Peter was born in Waltham on October 10, 1941, a son of the late George and Claire (Jordan) Donovan, and had been a lifelong resident. He was a graduate of Saint Sebastian's School, then in Newton, where he was a standout goalie on the hockey team.

During the Vietnam War he served as an air traffic controller with the United States Navy, an occupation he took with him into civilian life where he worked for the Federal Aviation Administration from 1967 to 1978.

After that he entered the human services field earning a degree from the University of Massachusetts and several certificates from Boston State College and Rutgers University in Alcoholic Studies and Human Service Administration. He gained extensive experience and expertise in the fields of substance abuse, homelessness and mental health.

His career began as a counselor at McLean Hospital in Belmont and at Marlborough Hospital where he supervised two halfway houses. In Waltham he became assistant director at Hurley House and later held leadership positions at Bristol Lodge, Community Connections and Meadowhouse, eventually merging the agencies with Middlesex Human Service Agency, one of the largest providers of services in Massachusetts.

Peter had served on the boards of several local groups including Youth Opposed to Using, Waltham Partnership for Youth, Waltham Boys & Girls Club, Waltham Visiting Nurses Association, Hurley House and Waltham Cable Access. He also belonged to Wayland Country Club where he indulged his passion for golf and was the Northeast Training Director for the Department of Public Health.

More impressive than all the degrees that he earned, the accolades he received and positions of authority that he held was the fact that he never passed on an opportunity to help lift up the spirit and the life of the most vulnerable and in need. His gentle soul and genuine humility will long be remembered by the communities that he was so much a part of.

He leaves his beloved wife, Janice M. (Cosgrove) Donovan; his children, Kari A. George and her husband, Kurtis, of Waltham and Mark Donovan of Texas; his grandchildren, Olivia and Jarred George; his sister, Regina Cacciatore and her husband, Richard, of Waltham; his sisters-in-law, Ann Marie Donovan of Holliston and Sheila Ryder of Colorado and many nieces and nephews and their families.

Peter was also the brother of the late Claire Haffey and Robert Donovan.

Family and friends will honor and remember Peter's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Friday, February 13th from 3 to 8 p.m. and again at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning before leaving in procession to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to Middlesex Human Service Agency, 50 Prospect Street, Waltham, MA 02453.