Her belief that volunteerism makes a community stronger and her willingness to assume her role in that theory has made Maureen Donovan a busy woman. There’s probably not enough hours in the day, at times, for the Tamaqua resident to practice what she preaches, but the demands on her time is something she simply shrugs off.

The members of the Panther Valley Irish-American Association have noticed and want to recognize Donovan’s contributions by presenting her the 2024 Shamrock Award at the annual 75th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Banquet to be held on Sunday, March 17, at the Hilltop Community Center, Summit Hill.

Donovan will accept the coveted award from PVIAA President Joseph O’Donnell during the program that will follow the annual dinner. A social hour will be held from 4-5 o’clock that afternoon, followed by the dinner and the tradition of honoring the “Irishperson of the Year.”

“Why me?,” Donovan asked when she was asked to accept the honor during the event that for decades has been held to recognize the role of Irish descendants in America and to recognize a local resident who has similarly made a commitment to the Carbon-Tamaqua area.

After taking a day or two to give the PVIAA an answer, she said, “OK, but make it low key.”

Later the daughter of the well-known Yorke family of Tamaqua realized the importance of the award.

“I began thinking, my father (the late Bernard, and his wife, the late former Agnes Bott) would be so proud. His Irish heritage meant the world to him. I still wrap myself in his Notre Dame blanket.”

To Donovan, family and community took priority No. 1 positions in her life. She and her husband, Bill “Angel” Donovan, both graduates of Marian Catholic High School, moved back to the Tamaqua area in 2002. She immediately continued the volunteerism she learned from her parents and grandparents and practiced while living in the Philadelphia-New Jersey area, and other parts of the country.

After marrying “Angel,” her high school sweetheart, Donovan moved to Philadelphia for her education and to start her professional career, then in the financial industry. Her husband went off to Boston College on a full football scholarship, having been an outstanding gridder for Coach Hugh ‘Wink” Gallagher’s Colts, and after college, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps where he went on to fly F-4 jets.

“I was a Marine’s wife, and instead of playing bridge, I started volunteering, primarily with the Red Cross,” she said. She continued her volunteerism at points where “Angel” was stationed, including Parris Island, S.C. “He was in flight school, so we would be here and there for two months at a time, and even spent time in Japan, and I tried to volunteer wherever I could,” she said.

They were married in 1968, and their twin daughters were born in the Marine Corps hospital at Parris Island. After his military career, they lived in the Philly-Jersey area where they raised the twins, Lynn, wife of Pat Milligan, New Jersey, head women’s basketball coach at Rider College, and Aileen Donovan Collender of Baltimore.

They have two grandchildren, Lucas Donovan Collender, a senior at West Virginia University, and Jamie Lynn Collender, who recently was awarded a scholarship to study in the honors program and play lacrosse at East Carolina University.

Returns home

An only child, and niece of uncles and aunts who had no children, Maureen and Bill moved back to Tamaqua not long after the turn of the century. She recalled, “We came home, primarily because my relatives depended on me. I was an only child, and I had uncles and aunts who were very good to me. I felt it was my responsibility to my family. And I’m so glad we did, It was the best things for us.”

She began volunteering locally, saying, “I’ve always believed if we’re going to be here, we have to contribute. There are so many people who are quick to look at what’s wrong with our area, but they don’t take the initiative to get involved to help make things right. I didn’t want to be one of them.”

Donovan is currently the vice chairwoman of the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership, the umbrella program for many organizations in the community. “I’m proud to be a part of it because it has been very successful, helping businesses and non-profits. Organizations look for structure and assistance, they turn to the partnership,” she said.

Of special importance to Donovan is the role she took as the first woman to serve as chairperson of the board of directors of St. Luke’s Hospital, Coaldale. She said, “My grandfather (Joe Yorke) would be so proud of that, and because of him, becoming the chair was very meaningful to me. He was among those who helped raise money in those days to build the hospital on land that was donated by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company. My grand-pap was very much involved in the whole thing, so it’s very special to me to be involved in the hospital.”

In the community

For many years, Donovan was a hostess of the annual telethon of the American Cancer Society.

She is president of the Tamaqua Business and Professional Women’s Club, which, she said, “started with a few woman but has grown greatly,” adding, “I’m very proud of the women, and very honored to be their president, because we’ve become such a vital part of the community. We have even been recognized by the state for the services we have provided here.”

Those services include the Wreaths Across America program, which enables Donovan and the women to “put emphasis on God, country and community,” she said.

She also serves as chairman of the board of CTC Manufacturing, Beaver Meadows, a non-profit organization that employs persons with disabilities and offers them job training and employment opportunities; serves on the Spirit of Christmas Committee in Tamaqua; is employed as a leadership and workforce development leader at the Lehigh-Carbon Community College, Tamaqua, where she works with business to assure companies there is a workforce locally that is ready to meet their needs; is a former coach member and vice chairwoman of the Marian High School board of directors; and belongs to the Schuylkill and Carbon County chambers of commerce.

For the Chamber, she directs the Leadership Carbon program that teaches participants about volunteerism, government, services and programs that help “make our area a better place,” Donovan said, stressing, “It’s important to encourage young people to stay here.”

Irish heritage

Reflecting on the honor she will receive, Donovan said, “It made me really think of my family, my father, the Yorke boys and my aunts. All five boys in the family served in the military. And it brings a tear to my eyes because they really loved their Irish heritage. I can’t even begin to tell you the green beer they’d be drinking on St. Patty’s Day this year.”

She said, “I’m very humbled. But they say it takes a village, and I believe that. We wouldn’t be successful with out people behind us, and I’m very proud of the many people who are a big part of the things we’ve been able to do. We’re blessed to have had the life we’ve shared…our children, where we live, and I feel very strongly about that.”