Kathy Donovan Obituary News: Lynn, MA, Long-Time Recreational Runner Kathy Donovan Passes Away

Kathy Donovan Obituary News: Lynn, MA, Long-Time Recreational Runner Kathy Donovan Passes Away

Kathy Donovan Obituary News: Dr. Cathy Donovan, a beloved mother, sister, daughter, aunt, church member, and physician, died suddenly and horribly on Monday, November 13, 2023. Cathy was born as the youngest of twins on October 14, 1967, in St. Petersburg, Florida. She grew up in Florida and attended the University of Miami, where she was a member of the Hurricanes’ “Band of the Hour” during their glory years.

She then went to the University of North Carolina for medical school before finishing a residency in family medicine in Spartinburg, South Carolina. She finished her residency in 1996 and moved to Minnesota, where she fell in love with both the health system and the Mille Lacs Lake area. Joy Chenghui Xu, her adored daughter, was adopted in 2000 from Nanjing, China.

Cathy embraced parenting with typical zeal, volunteering as a Girl Scout leader and school trip chaperone. Cathy’s family increased in 2005 when she adopted Shan Liang Dang from Luoyang, China. After adopting Shan, Cathy became an active sports mom and a champion for children with limb problems.

She spent her free time running, especially with her beloved rescue dogs, most recently Sunny and Flash, and snuggling with her many cats, who would just show up in her life and demand to be a part of her family after watching her children develop into successful young adults.

Cathy, a long-time recreational runner, achieved a personal goal in June 2023 by finishing Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth alongside her apprehensive twin sister. Cathy was known for her love of travel, having seen 49 states before graduating from high school, her love of gardening, and her daring attitude, which drove her to try things that both delighted and worried her family at times.