Jim Donovan, Cleveland Browns play-by-play announcer and television sportscaster, dies of cancer at 68

CLEVELAND – Jim Donovan, the beloved Cleveland Browns radio announcer and television sports observer for more than four decades, died Saturday. He was 68 years old.

Donovan retired from broadcasting earlier this year and stopped playing with the team before the season while battling cancer. He has called Cleveland games since the team’s resurgence in 1999.

“This is an extremely difficult day for us and the entire Cleveland Browns organization,” said Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam. “His impact as Voice of the Browns for 25 years is immeasurable as he touched the lives of our fans every day Sunday with his love of the Browns and his brilliance in his craft.

“He will be greatly missed, but he cemented a legacy that will live forever. The only thing that exceeded his love for this city and this team was the love he had for his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Cheryl, his daughter Meghan and everyone who was fortunate to call Jimmy family or friend.

A Boston native known to everyone as “Jimmy,” Donovan impressed Cleveland fans with his passion, sense of humor and professionalism. He paid great attention to detail and spent countless hours preparing to broadcast matches.

Donovan was recently inducted into the Browns’ Legends Club and the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame. He was too ill to attend the events.

When he was forced to step down in August, Donovan wrote a letter to Browns fans expressing gratitude for their support.

“I have been calling Browns Games for 25 years. “There wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t stop and be so proud to be the ‘Voice of the Browns,'” he wrote. “Cheryl, Meghan and I thank you for all your love, support and prayers during this difficult time. It’s like we have a huge family around us. And that’s what makes the Cleveland Browns so special. You do.

Last fall, Donovan had to leave his position as sports director of WKYC-TV for several months to undergo treatment for leukemia. He returned to the broadcast booth in time to call the team to the playoffs at the end of the season.

In 2000, he was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and in 2011 he underwent a bone marrow transplant.

A graduate of Boston University, Donovan came to Cleveland in 1985. In addition to producing local reports on the city’s three professional sports franchises, Donovan also had several assignments with national networks and was part of NBC’s reporting team for the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics.