Jim Donovan, Cleveland Browns play-by-play announcer and TV sports anchor, dies at 68

CLEVELAND (AP) — Jim Donovan, the beloved radio play-by-play announcer for the Cleveland Browns and a TV sports activities fixture for greater than 4 a long time, died Saturday. He was 68.

Donovan retired from his broadcast profession earlier this 12 months and stepped away from his game-day duties with the group earlier than this season whereas battling most cancers. He had known as Cleveland’s video games because the group’s growth rebirth in 1999.

“That is an extremely troublesome day for us and the complete Cleveland Browns group,” Browns homeowners Dee and Jimmy Haslam mentioned. “His affect because the Voice of the Browns for 25 years is immeasurable as he touched the lives of our followers every Sunday along with his love for the Browns and his brilliance at his craft.

“He shall be enormously missed, however he cemented a legacy that can reside on perpetually. The one factor that outweighed his love for this metropolis and this group was the love he had for his household. Our ideas and prayers are along with his spouse, Cheryl, his daughter, Meghan, and everybody who was lucky sufficient to name Jimmy household or good friend.”

A Boston native recognized to everybody as “Jimmy,” Donovan endeared himself to Cleveland followers along with his ardour, humorousness and professionalism. He was a stickler for element, spending numerous hours making ready for recreation broadcasts.

Donovan had just lately been inducted into the Browns’ Legends Membership and the Higher Cleveland Sports activities Corridor of Fame. He had been too unwell to attend the occasions.

When he was compelled to step down in August, Donovan wrote a letter to Browns followers expressing his gratitude for his or her assist.

“I’ve known as Browns video games for 25 years. Not a day has passed by once I haven’t paused and been so proud to be ‘The Voice of the Browns,’” he wrote. “Cheryl, Meghan and I thanks for all of the love, assist and prayers throughout my tough patches. It’s like having an enormous household round us. And that’s what makes the Cleveland Browns so particular. You do.”

Donovan needed to step away as sports activities director at WKYC-TV final fall for a number of months to bear therapy for leukemia. He returned to the printed sales space in time to name the group’s late-season run to the playoffs.

He had been recognized with persistent lymphocytic leukemia in 2000 and underwent a bone marrow transplant in 2011.

A graduate of Boston College, Donovan bought to Cleveland in 1985. Together with doing native reporting of town’s three skilled sports activities franchises, Donovan additionally had a number of nationwide community assignments and was a part of NBC’s protection group on the 1992 and 1996 Summer season Olympics.

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