Robert Maurice Donovan

Robert M. (Bob) Donovan, 94, of Salem, MA, died at the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, MA with his family by his side on Monday January 5th. Bob is survived by his children Maureen (Donovan) and Denis Viel, Windham, NH, Theresa (Donovan) and Dan Munroe, Marblehead, MA, Robert and Mary-Colette Donovan, Centreville, VA, David and Jill Donovan, Fayetteville, GA and Tim and Sharon Donovan, Swampscott, MA. He was preceded in death by his wife Catherine Louise (Marsio) Donovan in 2006. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren Daniel Munroe, Reston, VA, Juliet (Munroe) and Ian Brown, Nahant, MA, Matthew Viel, Nashua, NH, Jacob and Anna Donovan, Sterling, VA, Laura Viel, Cambridge, MA, Peter Donovan, Washington, DC, Colman Donovan, Swampscott, MA, Andrew Donovan, Omaha, NE, Colette Donovan, Alexandria, VA, Timothy Donovan, Swampscott, MA, Mary Catherine Donovan, Swampscott, MA, Kaitlyn Donovan, Fayetteville, GA and one great-grandchild William Brown, Nahant, MA.

Bob was born on June 17, 1931, in Glendale, Ohio to David and Anna Donovan. He had four brothers Bill, Paul, Dick and Jim. He graduated from Purcell Marian HS in 1948 and entered the Air Force in 1951. He served with distinction as an airplane mechanic reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant during the Korean War. In 1955, after his service, he returned to Cincinnati, OH and was employed by General Electric (GE).

Bob met Cathy Marsio in 1955 while working at GE and they married on June 15, 1957. Together they raised a family and relocated to Pittsfield and then Salem, MA as his career progressed at GE. After over 35 years of service and attaining the position of Sub-section Manager for the General Electric Aircraft Engine Group, Engine Reliability, he retired.

He and Cathy moved to Venice, FL in 1991 and enjoyed finally residing in a place that had no chance of snow. They enjoyed traveling and visiting with their children and grandchildren at the Florida beaches with frequent visits to Walt Disney World in Orlando. Bob and Cathy moved back to Massachusetts in 2005 to be closer to the family.

Visitation will be held on Friday, 16 Jan 2026, 4:00 – 7:00 PM at Murphy Funeral Home, Salem, MA. A funeral mass will be held 12 noon Saturday, January 17 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Peabody, MA. A reception following the funeral will be held Saturday, 17 Jan 2026, 1:30 – 4:00 PM at the Hawthorne Hotel, Salem, MA. The burial will be held at a later date at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Salem, MA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to:

• EWTN 5817 Old Leeds Rd., Irondale, AL 35210
• Blood Cancer United – Donor services, PO Box 98018 Washington DC 20090-8018

The family would like to thank the staff at The John Bertram House, Salem, MA and the nurses and caretakers at Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital Hospice Unit, 200 Springs Rd, Bedford, MA for the outstanding care they have provided Bob.