[1][2][3] Born in Edgewood, Rhode Island, Donovan's family (he also had 3 sisters) moved to the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area when John was a child.
With the assistance of their daughter's Anne's illustrations, Donovan published several books about dogs, mostly through the local publisher, Denlinger: Donovan represented Falls Church, Fairfax County and surrounding areas in the state senate for three terms, 1952-1964, during the period of Massive Resistance as well as the growth of the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.
Donovan's core Falls Church and Fairfax area was reformulated for that election as the 28th District when growing Northern Virginia received some additional representation.
Omer L. Hirst and Robert C. Fitzgerald were elected as Fairfax's dual senators, defeating John K. Lally and William G. Downey in the primary.
[7][8] Donovan never again held elective office, but continued his legal practice, as well as again became a statewide representative of the Lions Club in that national (and international) organization.