Anne R. Donovan

Anne R. Donovan, 87, of Kingston passed away peacefully on Friday, April 24, 2015 at home. She was born January 1, 1928 in Kingston, to the late William and Kathryn (Bergen) Donovan. She is survived by her sister, Kathleen Donovan Beichert, her brother in law Philip J Beichert, two nieces, one nephew and nine great nieces and nephews. She will be missed greatly by her family and multitude of friends to whom she was an inspiration and a source of great love and affection.


A life long Kingstonian, Anne graduated from Kingston High School in 1944. She received her BA in 1948 and later her MA from the State University of New York at Albany. Soon after, Anne began her career as a teacher and guidance counselor at Kingston High School. After inspiring and motivating her students for many years, she began an active retirement in 1988. She remained a familiar face around town and continued her role as mentor and motivator. In addition to being a vital presence in the lives of her nieces and nephew, she was active member of the Kingston community. Among other things, she was a sustaining member of the Junior League of Kingston. She was a charter member of the Ulster County Drug Commission. She was a long time parishioner at the Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Kingston.


Anne was most proud of her work for the Ulster County Community College. She was first appointed as a Trustee of the college in 1974 by Governor Malcolm Wilson. She remained an integral part of the Trustee Board for the next 38 years. Miss Donovan led the Board as Chairman for six years from 1978-1981 and again from 1991-1994. During her illustrious tenure, she was a member of each of the Board's committees, chairing the Educational Programs and Services committees for twelve years. She served on the President's Evaluation Committee for more than twenty five years and participated on the Presidential Selection Committee in both 1997 and 2001. She became chair of the Personnel Committee in 2012.


In recognition for her years of tireless dedication to the College, Anne was publically recognized on many occasions. In 1989, she received the Twenty Year Service Award from the Association Board of Trustees of Community Colleges. 1998 saw her bestowed with the Anne M. Bushnell Award. In 2014, Anne was awarded the Donald A. Mahwhinney Award for Trustee Leadership from the New York Community College Trustees. At the time of her death, Miss Donovan was Director Emeritus of the Ulster County Community College Foundation. She had been honored by the Foundation for her generous efforts in support of higher education in 2003. Miss Donovan was the longest serving trustee in the history of UCCC. When quizzed about her role at the College, she always attributed the College's growth and achievements to her colleagues and the student body, deflecting credit form herself. She was very proud of the College's excellent transfer record to senior colleges. She remained passionate in her advocacy for junior colleges until the end.


When not championing affordable and relevant higher education for Ulster County, she enjoyed time with her many friends and family. She was a regular every summer out on the beach at Williams Lake. She was a frequent visitor to the ocean beaches of the east coast. She vacationed in Bermuda on many occasions. In her later years, she spent the winters at Marco Island, Florida. When not on the beach, she spent hours in her garden, an avocation she graciously shared with her friends, nieces and nephews thereby inspiring a new generation of gardeners. Whenever a friend or family member was in need of celebration, consolation, inspiration or a simple helping hand, Anne was the first one there. Her memory and service oriented generosity will continue to serve as a beacon of inspiration for generations to come in both her family and community.


Entrusted to the care of A. Carr & Son Funeral Home, 65 Lucas Ave, Kingston, where friends and family may visit on Monday April 27th from 2-4pm and 7-9pm. The funeral procession will form at the funeral home on Tuesday April 28th at 9am and proceed to St. Joseph's RC Church, 242 Wall St., Kingston where at 10am a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Kingston.


In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Ulster County Community College Foundation.