Gary Daniel Donovan 1950 – 2025

Tahoe Valley, CA…Gary Daniel Donovan September 6, 1950 – June 15, 2025.  Long time former Dorrington resident Gary Daniel Donovan, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away on June 15, 2025, at the age of 74 after complications from heart surgery.

Born in San Francisco to Ernest and Frances Donovan, Gary was raised in Belmont, California, and graduated from Carlmont High School, where he loved to sing acapella.

In 1979, Gary met Ana Romelia Brenes through a co-worker married to her aunt. Just three months later, Gary & Ana were married — a bold and lasting commitment that stood the test of time for 45 years. Together, they raised three children, facing life’s many challenges with determination and grit.

In 1989, Gary and Ana moved to the Sierra Nevada mountains and built their dream home in Dorrington, a place where Gary found peace in the beauty of the outdoors. He especially loved fishing with his sons, Chris and Peter, in the high alpine waters of Lake Alpine, Mosquito Lake, and Kinney Reservoir.

Gary spent a significant portion of life delivering newspapers for the San Francisco Chronicle. He was a proud member of Teamsters Local 921 and later Teamsters Local 853, both of which represented newspaper drivers during a time of major transition in the print industry. Gary stood alongside fellow union members as they faced job restructurings, route consolidations, and labor disputes—including the historic 1994 Chronicle strike. Though often reserved, he took great pride in his work and his role within a tight-knit community of drivers committed to fairness, solidarity, and showing up every single day, no matter the weather.

A lifelong dog lover, Gary shared his life with four Labrador retrievers over the years — Lester, Lyka, Hank, and Otis. Each was a loyal companion during long walks, quiet mornings, and road trips to his favorite fishing spots.

Gary is survived by his wife, Ana Romelia; daughter, Meredith (Donovan) Broglio; sons, Chris and Peter Donovan; daughter-in-law, Pehkna Singh; son-in-law, Justin Broglio; and granddaughters, Lucy and Romelia Broglio. He is preceded in death by his parents, Ernest “Babe” and Frances Donovan, and sister, Jeanne Donovan.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, July 10, at 2:00 PM at the North Tahoe Event Center in Kings Beach, California. All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to the Central California Lab Rescue, in honor of Gary’s lifelong love for labradors.