God rest his soul.
Posted on 08/04/2013 6:09:50 PM PDT by massmike
Art Donovan played pro football for 12 years. The rest of his life, he spent telling everyone about it.
Donovan, 89, who died Sunday of a respiratory ailment at Stella Maris Hospice, played and talked a great game. He was a Hall of Fame defensive tackle for the Baltimore Colts and an engaging raconteur at banquets and on TV talk shows. His cherublike face, adenoidal voice and side-splitting tales of yore captivated generations of viewers who never saw Donovan collar a quarterback or take down a runner.
"Artie made a career out of telling people everything that he'd done right — and wrong — in football," said Ordell Braase, his teammate on the field and in the broadcast studio. "The diversity of his appeal was amazing. Everyone wanted to hug 'Fatso,' from young girls to little old ladies."
Donovan died just before 8 p.m., surrounded by 15 to 20 family members, said his daughter, Kelly Donovan-Mazzulli.
(Excerpt) Read more at baltimoresun.com ...
Prayer for the family..he was a hoot!!!!
RIP Mr. Donovan.
At least Donovan lived a truly full life. Very few ex-NFL players make it to their 60’s.
RIP, Mr. Donovan.
Mark
RIP Mr. Donovan.
Thanks for linking, it’s a great video.
Same here.
RIP, Artie Donovan!
PING
Very few ex-NFL players make it to their 60’s? I figured that they might not have a normal life expectancy but ‘very few’ make it to only their 60’s? Oh well, I hope they lived it up while they were here!
Atie was a throwback. I always liked listening to him.
One of my favorite quotes (dealing with death) of his was:
“The best way to die is to sit under a tree, eats lots of bologna and salami, drink a case of beer and blow up.”
-Art Donovan on life
Godspeed Artie.
Thanks. This post beat me by 12 minutes. I was slow.
Artie was a great guy. I’ve sat and talked with him before. Funny as all get-out.
I read his book Fasto long time ago.
Trivial fact: Art Donovan’s father was Arthur Donovan Sr. who was a great boxing referee who I believed refereed the second Louis/Schmeling fight.
Art Donovan seemed like one of those people who had fun no matter what he was doing or where he was at. Hope that your at the food buffet in heaven right now, Art. RIP.
Wow. RIP.
Never saw him play but he was quite a character when I’d see him on TV. I did read a book about the famous championships game between the Colts & Giants in 1958 or so and he was quote in that book. In a way it seems pretty amazing he even lived to be 89.
What a great character.
I met the man as a kid. Went to one of his daughter’s birthday parties circa early 1970s. He was “the man,” a real character at all times.
looks like my GF’s dad. played for Phil Marion at Ridley HS
I loved the guy - Now he’s in the real hall of fame.
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