New-York tribune., 1918-03-25
mike" Donovan,
Noted Athlete,
Patriot, Is Dead
Was Physical Instructor to
Many Prominent
Men

Professor "Mike" Donovan, Civil
War veteran, an athlete and trainer OF
many noted Americans, died yesterday
morning in ST. Francis Hospital, The
Bronx, as the result of cold he re-
Gently contracted while instructing
men who are soon to go to France at
one of the New York armories.
Professor Donovan, who was seventy
four years old, was born near Chicago
and came to New York as a young man.
His home was at 1,790 Walton avenue,
The Bronx.
Funeral services will be held at 10
a. M Wednesday in the Church of the
Sacred Heart. Shakespeare avenue and
169th street, The Bronx.
Messages of coincidence were received
by his family from Colonel Roosevelt,
at whose bedside Donovan was q visi
tor while the Colonel was convale scing
in Roosevelt Hospital from James J.
Jc1frics, the Rev Father Mulrg, presi-
dent of Fordham College, and from
scores of others.
A veteran Of the Civil War and all
his life Il fighter and a patriot, Mike
Donovan gave his life to help his coun-
try win the war. The day before he
was taken i'll he appeared at one of
the armories in this city and for sew
eral hours instructed men soon to go
across" in how to handle their fists.
His eXertion brought on a heavy cold
that developed into pneumonia within
twentyfour hours.
Since the outbreak of the war, one
hope had always been close to the
heart of the old champion. He wanted
to so to France, and he tried every
ernment work that would bring him to
the firing line. Nothing made him
more irate than to be told, as he was
told again and again, that he was "too
old to 60"
Up to the last illness Donovan was
actually in better condition than many
men half his age. He carried his
sevcnty-two Years as though they were
thirty, and was able to box several fast
rounds despite his white hair.
Roosevelt's Instructor
During the years that he held the
post Of boxing instructor at the New
York Athletic Club he came to know
most of the prominent men Of the city
anI state. He taught Theodore Roose-
velo to box, and many others high in
political, social and business circles
owe their knowledge of self-defence to
| him.
A few years ago he asked to be re-
tired from his post at the New York
Athletic Club. He had been in it's SER
vice almost since its organization.
Those who witnessed the farewell bene-
fit that the club gave him learned how
its members respected and loved
"Mike."
Donovan was born near Chicago, and
came to Brooklyn as a young man. He
worked there until the outbreak of the
Civil War, and then enlisted, fighting
at Gettysburg and in many other gen
eral engagements, and marching with
Sherman from Atlanta to the sea.
Always fond of athletics, Donovan,
after the war, gravitated naturally into
the prizering. Through his skill and
stamina he fought himself up to the
champi onship Of the middleweight 1T
class. The championship belt that he
won still hangs in the New York Ath-
letic Club trophy room.
Fought Larger Men
He fought all Of his battles, some
times against men in the heavyweight
class, with consummate skill. He never,
"hile III VIC illS, WclBHeu more IMAM
100 pounds.
While directing the boxing activities
of the New York Athletic Club, Dono.
van turned out some Of the best anna
| teur boxers in America. He was al
ways a great friend and admirer of
John L. Sullivan, and grieved genuinely
when he received news of the "old
Romans" death.
Donovan always led clean life HI
never drank or smoked. and exercised
rellgiously from the time he vas lad
He was a devout churchman, and was
deeply attached to the Church of the
Paullst Fathers, at Columbus Avenue
ana Fifty ninth Street.
He was senior vice commander of
Killarney Post, G. A. r. He wrote sew
eral books on boxing and ring general
! ship. Three sons. one of them now at
Spartanburg. S. c.. and six daughters
survive him.