Jim Donovan passed away on Saturday. He was the Cleveland Browns’ adored radio play-by-play commentator and a TV sports mainstay for almost 40 years. His age was 68.
Donovan left his game-day responsibilities with the team prior to this season due to his cancer battle, and he departed from his broadcasting career earlier this year. After the team’s expansion and revival in 1999, he had been calling Cleveland’s games.
“We and the entire Cleveland Browns organization are having a very tough day,” stated Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam. He changed the lives of our fans every Sunday with his passion for the Browns and his skill as the Voice of the Browns for 25 years. His influence is incalculable.
Although he will be sorely missed, he left behind a legacy that will endure forever. Only his love for his family was greater than his love for this city and this squad. We send our condolences to his wife, Cheryl, his daughter, Meghan, and all those who had the good fortune to call Jimmy a friend or family member.
Born in Boston and often referred to as “Jimmy,” Donovan won over Cleveland supporters with his enthusiasm, wit, and professionalism. As a meticulous individual, he devoted numerous hours to getting ready for game broadcasts.
The Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame and the Browns’ Legends Club had just inducted Donovan. He had been too sick to go to the functions.
In August, Donovan wrote to Browns supporters to thank them for their support after he was forced to step down.
“I’ve been calling Browns games for twenty-five years. “I have never gone a day without pausing to express my pride in being ‘The Voice of the Browns,'” he wrote. “Thank you for all of your love, prayers, and support during my difficult times, Cheryl, Meghan, and I.” It is similar to being surrounded by a large family. And the Cleveland Browns are so unique because of that. Yes, you do.
In order to receive treatment for leukemia, Donovan had to leave his position as WKYC-TV’s sports director for a few months last fall. Before the team’s late-season run to the playoffs, he made it back to the broadcast booth.
In 2001, he received a bone marrow transplant after being diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in early 2000.
Born in Boston, Donovan arrived in Cleveland in 1985. Donovan covered the city’s three professional sports teams locally, had a number of national network assignments, and was a member of NBC’s coverage team for the Summer Olympics in 1992 and 1996.