Rotterdam – John E. Donovan Jr., 72, passed away on Thursday, August 12th, 2021 after a brief illness. John was born in Albany, NY to his parents, the late John E. Donovan and late Mary B. Rissberger Donovan. A lifelong area resident, John graduated from Mohonasen High School. After graduation, he served his country in the Air National Guard. Before his retirement, John worked for many years in several capacities at the SI Group. In John’s free time, he loved going to car shows and air shows and he was a World War II history buff. He enjoyed taking walks with his family through the woods and reminiscing with them about the old neighborhood since his children were raised in the home he grew up in. Above all things in life, John loved spending time with his kids, grandkids and grandpets. He leaves behind his 3 children, Shannon (Patrick) Murphy, Sean (Colleen) Donovan and Jamie (Billy) Bolton; granddaughters, Isabella and Kalli Murphy; his siblings, Peter (Joyce) Donovan, Alice (Jim) Murray and William (Emily) Donovan, as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, John is predeceased by his wife of 43 years, Sandy Montone Donovan. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday from 11am-1pm at the DeMarco-Stone Funeral Home, 1605 Helderberg Avenue, Rotterdam. A service will begin at 1pm. John will be laid to rest next to Sandy at Evergreen Memorial Park, Colonie. Memorial donations may be made to the National Kidney Foundation at kidney.org/donation.