by William Donovan Obituary, Death – William J. “Billy” Donovan, 62, of Cicero, Illinois, passed away on January 4, 2023, at home with his family at his side. He was the son of the late Theodore Donovan and Elizabeth (Ennis) Donovan, and he was born in Syracuse. Mary Beth (Jackson) Donovan, his wife of 38 years, his daughters Morgan (Devin) Mackie of New York City and Lauren Donovan of Cicero, his two grandchildren, Kennedy Marilyn Mackie and Beau William Mackie, his four siblings, Sally Silvaggio, Theodore (Christine) Donovan, Dale Luckette, and Patricia Nuzzo, and a large extended family of nieces, nephews, and cousins all survive him as well.
He lost both parents and a sibling when Danny passed away. Anyone in Billy D’s inner circle is split between sadness and appreciation for the opportunity to have known him. On the golf course, the lake, the basketball court, at Pastimes, at Lakeshore YCC, and even in his driveway, he made everyone feel at home. Billy D was the one who got everyone together, whether it was for an official Donovan Family Fun Day or a spontaneous get-together for no particular reason at all. Music, food, pictures, anecdotes, full (never half) glasses, jokes from his official rotation, and hugs for all were never in short supply at his parties (rumor has it he was a sentimental soul).
The time you spent with him was always well spent because of his intrinsic ability to make you feel valued. Billy was born with a taste for Syracuse. He grew up on the north side and his childhood acquaintances are now some of his closest confidants. When attending schools like St. John the Baptist, Assumption, OCC, and Oswego, Billy was able to meet people he would remain in touch with for the rest of his life. Billy spent nearly 40 years in the workforce at National Grid. If you were to ask someone, “How do you know Billy?,” they would give you an answer that involves years and locations apart, yet each of those people would have left an indelible mark on Billy’s life.
Mary Beth has been his genuine love and greatest friend since they were 13 years old, yet he has shared his heart with many. For decades, they enjoyed the “BEST DAYS EVER” thanks to the love and partnership they shared. When his daughters Lauren and Morgan, or Morgan’s spouse Devin, were mentioned, Billy’s face lit up with pride. As his daughters’ relationships with their friends and family grew, Billy cherished every moment he spent with them. His grandchildren Kennedy and Beau, as well as Sunnie and Bruce, his four-legged grandchildren, filled his heart beyond measure.
Since Billy joined the family, he has added a new dimension to all of their cherished memories. On Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., friends and family are invited to St. Patrick’s/St. Brigid Church, 216 North Lowell Ave., Syracuse, NY, for a Funeral Mass in honor of Billy. THOMAS J. PIRRO JR. FUNERAL HOME, 3401 Vickery Rd. (corner of Buckley Rd.), North Syracuse, NY 13206 will receive visitors on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, from 3:00 to 6:00 pm.
