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It is hoped that young people accessing this section will be able to be motivated to reach their potential, education and find their mentors.
Professor Donovan’s passion for the past 40 years have been education and land conservation.
The academic, business, and government associations that have come to Professor Donovan has been largely due to the good fortune of education and mentors, thus he has and is striving to give the same gifts to others.
[Pictures of helicopter, Santa Clause, and outward bound]
Professor Donovan was born on Brooklawn Terrace in Lynn, Mass
Picture of Prof. Donovan in front of home
Professor Donovan started his professional journey with nothing more than what he could fit on his motor scooter:
Picture of JJD and scooter-first day of marriage and journey to Yale with wife, and all net worth and possession at the time (the two children are neighbors)
For the young people reading this let me convey a brief story of a young girl Mary was told she could not accomplish a goal of climbing Mount Monadnock but after climbing she said, sadly, “I wonder how many other things I might have been able to do but I never tried because they said I could not!
The book “The little engine that could” is particularly helpful.
Passion for Education
The seed for education was planted by father who was a 3rd grade teacher and by an extraordinary mother, who while did not have the opportunity to go to college; would encourage school. (Professor Donovan supported her in going to Harvard and receiving her degree at 62!)
Picture of mother with brother getting her degree
Picture of father
If you are a parent expose young children to educational joys.
Mentors
The passion however was ignited by a group of mentors.
I list those mentors here with deep appreciation of what they did for me, but most importantly for the type of mentors that you, the visitor to this site might want to align yourself with.
Patterns/Teaching
In high school, Mr. Thornton, Lynn English High School mathematics teacher, would ask young John Donovan to teach the class. Mr. Thornton would tell john always look for the pattern - e.g. In algebra he said treat the equation as being “fair” to both sides 2X=16 solve for X divide both sides by 2!
Your mentors can help you find the “patterns in discipline, life, businesses, academia – listen to them.
Further take the opportunity to teach -teaching you “learn the material twice”
National Honors Society Picture
The system
Professor Donovan’s hope was someday to become a college teacher at a university -first MIT, and in paralleled to teach children in
Picture of teaching children
the community. In the community he taught at the Lowell School, and he continues teaching children within charitable organizations; "Children’s Potential Unlimited”, donating computing capability to schools; through establishment of scholarships. It was through the mentor of Professor Paul MacAvoy that made this possible.
Professor Paul MacAvoy, (MIT economist) mentored me at MIT. Guided me through the process of quality teaching and research,
But without his knowledge of the MIT system I would not have received tenure. For example one day while getting off the train together he asked me how are things going at MIT? I told him “great, my text books have sold over 12,000 copies, I have just recieved the highest teaching award at MIT”.
Professor MacAvoy’s response “this is a disaster” if 10,000 people can understand your books they have no intellectual content what so ever, and if you taught a course in pornography you would be assured of winning a teaching award. You will not be reappointed you must stop. For MIT, do the research, publish in these journals” (he gave the list). I did and became one of the youngest tenured professors. To the reader- find as a mentor some one who knows the system (or systems) as and listen to them.
Protection
Abe Segal my dean in the Sloan School. When jealousy of colleagues manifested itself into criticism he defended me at MIT.
Find a strong person with integrity and independence and become close to that person
Mentors that have influence
David Loyd, Classmate (picture David and date at senior prom) at the Tufts / MIT undergraduate program, in 1962 said to me "computers are the future. he recommended I take Professor Kuo class
Professor Shan Kuo Ph.D (Yale)., College Professor-
At Tufts he introduced me to computers and advocated I go to Yale, He wrote a letter to Professor Wogin at Yale
[Letter from Kuo]
Which resulted in my admission
Find those mentors that have been where you want to be and are respectful, and have courage.
Dignity/respect
Admiral Rickover, founder of the US nuclear fleet.
Admiral Rickover interviewed young John -asked a question why are man hole covers round??
John answered so they will not fall into the hold and so they can be moved by rolling them! He said correct, you are my aid.
As a mentor he taught me many lessons e.g.
-Never have anyone bring coffee to a meeting: One day Admiral Rickover assembled 12 admirals and their young assistants for assignments.
All were dressed in total navy “whites” As they came into the room one of the boys had a cup of coffee in his hand.
Admiral Rickover turned to me and said that boy will never become an admiral.
I asked why (Rickover had no prejudice-he only wanted smart and loyal associates)
Admirial responded to me, –two reasons!
“What are they”?
He said-wait you will see.
After an hour each boy had to describe their desired assignments. When the boy (who had the coffee) got up he moved his hand and hit the cup (1/2 full) of coffee. As it spilled across the table on the “whites” of the admirals.
Admiral Rickover turned to me and said “ONE”
What is the other?
Wait
Well after two hours what do you think? The boy had to go to the bathroom (after drinking a half cup of coffee) he raised his hand and asked to be excused!
As soon as he left the other admirals asked for the assignment
Rickover said “TWO”!!
The boy, when returned, was given Nome Alaska-(Never to become an admiral)
Lesson-Do not bring coffee into a meeting.
-Quality:-one must personally take responsibility
There has never been an accident on a nuclear submarine! Rickover personally interviewed every vendor. One day on the 7th floor of the Pentagon (in Rickover’s office me dutifully behind him)
A vendor came in with his product- a sensing device as to the severity of depth charges. Rickover asked if he had tested the device for shocks The vendor said yes! Rickover proceeded to the window, looked down and threw the device out of the window. As it “whistled” to the ground Rickover said if it still works you have a contract-if it does not never show your face again to the United States Navy!!-the vendor did not come back!
Lesson-pick mentors who are strong and wise- watch them!
Young Collegues
I introduce these young people, who have inspired me and by there example they give us all hope that the next generation will be even better!
Just to pick an example my demonstration team members that added to the productivity of thousands of organizations around the world
Just a short clip of one of the teams (there have been over 50 members) introducing themselves.
Let me show you what this team and one young woman presented to 400 cingular employees! A superior interactive billing system they built overnight, receiving a standing ovation!!
Land Conservation
The Passion, for conservation of land has its roots in long walks with his father in “Lynn Woods”, a woodland preserve. The passion was ignited at 16 when Professor Donovan bought a motor scooter and traveled to the North Shore and realized how beautiful it was, only to return four years later and see the developments move in.
Professor Donovan started purchasing land in 1974. First by borrowing. His first piece was 30 acres of open space that was about to be developed, next was 10 acres, then 17, then 7 until he assembled nearly 1000 acres. He and his son John have placed farming and conservation restrictions on that beautiful land.
Professor Donovan, working with his wife Linda, Greenbelt, and Essex Country Trail Association are creating a network of trails throughout the area for walking, cross-country skiing, and riding.