It was clear that during his lifetime, Senator James H. Donovan made a substantial contribution in the field of education. At the time of his passing more than 11 years ago, senate majority leader Ralph J. Marino said, “Jim Donovan’s most lasting contribution will be in the area of education, where he assured that quality and affordable education was this state’s top priority.”
So what was it exactly that the Senator did that was so noteworthy during his lifetime? Donovan was chairman of the Senate Education Committee for 14 years, as well as the char for the Committee on Roads and Public Works, and the Committee on Mental Hygiene and Addiction Control. One of his battles was to educate against teen illiteracy and pregnancy. Clearly, Donovan did much for education and society at large.