Longtime Cleveland Browns announcer Jim Donovan passed away on Saturday. Donovan, who was a familiar and much loved voice for match going fans at the Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, is survived by his wife, Cheryl, and daughter, Meghan. He was 68.
"We are heartbroken that Jim Donovan, the Voice of the Browns, has passed away," Cleveland Browns wrote on a social media post.
"Jim provided so much joy and love to this city. His steady presence on the radio for Browns games and on television for nightly news made it feel like he was an extended family member for all those that tuned in. His signature calls will be forever embedded in Browns history."
We are heartbroken that Jim Donovan, the Voice of the Browns, has passed away.Jim provided so much joy and love to this city. His steady presence on the radio for Browns games and on television for nightly news made it feel like he was an extended family member for all those… pic.twitter.com/ASYOzIKK7G
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 26, 2024
Phil Donovan's Wife Cheryl, Daughter Meghan
In a profile of the play-by-play announcers done by Cleveland.com, Phil Donovan had said that she met Cheryl in 1988 at the Old Arcade in downtown Cleveland. He revealed that at that time, Cheryl used to be a hairdresser for Donovan's friend, Jim Hooley, journalist at WKYC. They got married in 1989.
Meanwhile, his daughter Meghan is works at the University of Akron sports information department. During his long battle with cancer, Cheryl and Meghan were crucial pillars of support from the announcer.