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Frederick Francis Donovin

Date of Death: November 23, 2025

Date of Birth: May 1, 1931

Biography:

Frederick Francis Donovin, 94, passed away in Lewiston, Maine on November 23, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Frederick was born to Frank and Katherine Donovin, at home, in Garfield, New Jersey on May 1, 1931.

Frederick graduated from Garfield High School and enlisted in the United States Marines Corps. He was honorably discharged after serving as a Sargent in the Korean War. Following his discharge, he served in the Marine Corps Reserve.

After his military service he attended Alfred University where he met Patricia O' Hearn on a blind date, marrying her in 1954. They were married for 67 years, raising their five children, Kathleen, Michael, Christopher, Mary and John, in Schooley's Mountain, New Jersey.

Fred worked in sales for the transportation industry and always found time for church and his community. He served as a Eucharistic Minister and worked as a part-time police officer for many years.

Fred's passion was fishing, eventually leading him to get his Captains license chartering many offshore excursions along the Jersey shore.

Fred also loved to fly, earning his pilot's license, and flying his Piper aircraft with friends and family.

The tall man with the twinkling eyes and the ever-present pipe loved God, loved his family, loved the Marines, loved to learn, loved to read, loved meeting new people, and loved being in the outdoors, specifically on the water fishing. He loved sharing his passions with his five children, eight grandchildren, and several great grandchildren.

He began his retirement in Maine, where he volunteered for the Casco Rescue Squad and the Casco Library. He continued his retirement in North Carolina, fulfilling a lifelong dream to live and fish the coastal Carolina waters.

In his later years, his gregarious personality and broad smile made him the perfect candidate to be the Ambassador for the Woods, welcoming residents at his North Carolina independent living facility.

His final months brought him back to Maine where he was blessed with new friends, beautiful weather, an abundance of wildlife and greenery, his new great grandson and additional friends and family members.

Pre-deceased by his wife, Patricia, his parents, sister Constance and many other longtime friends and family members; Fred is survived by his children, daughters Kathleen Casparius and Mary Donovin, sons, Michael, Christopher and his wife Betty, John and his wife Nancy, grandchildren, Charles Casparius and his wife Kelly, Christopher, Jeffrey, Dustin Moore, Luke Stefanacci, Megan, Joseph, Patrick and his wife Siena; great granchildren, Cailyn Casparius, Liam Casparius, Corbin Moore, and many nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at Holy Family Church in Lewiston Maine on December 5, 2025, at 11:00 am and in North Carolina in the Spring of 2026 which will include a military service for Frederick before being laid to rest with his wife, Patricia at Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery at Camp Le June North Carolina.