Jim Donovan and Family

The Donovan Family needs our help – Time to Rally around Jim!

Jim Donovan has always believed in serving others, now let’s return the favor.

Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Jim attended St. Barnabas (Class of 1990) and Mt. Carmel High School (Class of 1994) where he played Baseball and Football. This was a source of pride for his father,James V., a 30-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department. Jim’s mom, Patricia, a long-time employee at Chesterfield Federal Savings & Loan, logged many hours volunteering at St. Barnabas while he and his sister Caroline were in attendance there. Jim’s sister is a St. Barnabas (1992) and Mother McAuley (1996) alum. Serving others runs in the family- she has been a nurse at Rush University Medical Center for the past 16 years.

Jim later joined the Marines to serve our country as his dad had done in the Army Reserve. He spent two years stationed in Japan and the other two years at Camp Pendleton. After serving in the Marines Jim decided to join the IUEC Elevator Constructors Local 2 Union, where he has been a member for 16 years. While working for the union, Jim also attended and graduated college at University of Illinois-Chicago.

Jim is the father of three wonderful children. Jimmy is a junior at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, and Nate and Aubrie are in 6th and 8th grade at Clissold Elementary. He has worked tirelessly to provide for them and be a loving, grateful, and supportive dad. He has coached baseball, soccer, and football over the years for them in various leagues in Beverly and Mt. Greenwood.

Despite being so busy, Jim was still able to carve out time to help his mom and sister care for his dad over many years, especially the last few preceding his passing this past July. Jim’s father had a stroke many years ago. He then became sick with cancer, heart issues and kidney complications. Jim was always there to take his father to doctor’s appointments, help him with eating meals, getting around at home and being by his bedside to give him comfort and love. Jim’s dedication to hard work and to serving others has truly been an inspiration to all who know him. He truly is the type of person who always wants to lend a helping hand.

Tragically, Jim’s life would change forever when he was involved in a serious car accident on December 18th, 2022. Jim suffered a spinal cord injury where his cord was pinched between the c3-c5 vertebrae. He received emergency posterior spinal cord decompression and fusion at Christ Hospital.

Jim currently is paralyzed from the shoulder down and spent eight weeks at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab where he went through rigorous therapy. He is showing signs of improvement but has a long road ahead. As always Jim is not shying away from this challenge and is determined to put in the hard work to get him back to taking care of his family. Jim recently transferred to Hines VA Hospital for further evaluation in preparation to return home. We are asking the community to support Jim and his family during this exceedingly difficult road ahead.

The goal is to have Jim concentrate on his recovery and his children and to lessen their financial burden. These financial demands Jim will face in the coming years will be construction to reconfigure parts of his home, medical bills, medical equipment, nursing care at home, transportation, and on-going therapy. Please let the Donovan Family know we are with them in this time of need and help is on the way!

All funds will benefit the James P. Donovan Trust