Kathleen M. Donovan, 57, a highly regarded Professor of Psychology at the University of Central Oklahoma, died on August 28, 2006, due to complications from Ovarian Cancer. Kathy was a resident of Oklahoma City. Kathy was born the oldest daughter of a devout Irish-Catholic family on January 16, 1949, in Conway, Arkansas, to the late Judge Francis T. Donovan and Elizabeth 'Libby' Donovan. She received her undergraduate degree from Hendrix College, Conway, Arkansas; MA from Southern Methodist University, Dallas; and Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Kansas. She held her first university teaching position at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas starting in 1979. It was at Baker that she met and married Ronald Bogle, her husband of 27 years. Ron and Kathy moved to Oklahoma City in 1981 to raise their children near family in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Kathy dedicated her professional life to mentoring and teaching secondary and college students pursuing scientific research. As a result of her outstanding service to regional and national organizations that encourage young scientists, Kathy became a well-respected educator both in Oklahoma and nationally. As an indication of her national stature, she was recently elected to the rank of Fellow by the Council of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In addition to a full teaching schedule at UCO, Kathy also served as president of the 85,000 member National Academies of Science, was an elected member of the Science Education Committee for the American Association for the Advancement of Science, an executive board member of the Southwestern and Rocky Mountain Division of AAAS, and an executive committee member of the American Junior Academy of Science. She also served as state director of the Oklahoma Junior Academy of Science, an executive council member of the Oklahoma Academy of Science, and is state treasurer of the Oklahoma Psychological Society. At UCO, Kathy was widely recognized as an outstanding teacher and mentor. Among her numerous recognitions, she was named a UCO Hauptman Research Fellow, Distinguished Teacher of the Year by the American Association of University Professors, and selected by the Oklahoma Psychological Society as its Outstanding Teacher of the Year. In addition, Kathy was an active community leader in Oklahoma City and received the Paragon Award from Leadership Oklahoma City for her volunteer work with the YWCA. Kathy attended Christ the King Catholic Church in Oklahoma City. Most importantly, to those who knew her, Kathy was a loving and generous friend, mentor, wife, mother, sister and daughter and we loved her very much. We also admire the extraordinary courage she displayed through her long and challenging illness. Kathy is survived by her husband, Ronald Bogle, their son, Kevin Donovan Bogle and daughter, Erin Kathleen Bogle. The family home is in Oklahoma City. She is also survived by stepmother, Cara Nell Donovan of Conway; brothers, Tom Donovan of Fayetteville and Joe Donovan of Kansas City, MO; sisters, Ann Donovan, Fayetteville; Ginny Baldridge and husband, Tony, St Louis, Patty Tackett and husband, David, Hot Springs; and many wonderful and loving nephews, nieces and friends. Friends of Kathy may wish to make memorial donations to the Oklahoma Junior Academy of Science where a scholarship fund for top Oklahoma secondary school student researchers is being established in Kathy's name - c/o Dr. David Bass, UCO, Campus Box 90, Edmond, OK 73034. Rosary 7:00 P.M., Wednesday, August 30, 2006, at Smith & Kernke Chapel, 14624 N. May Avenue. Mass of Christian Burial, 11:00 A.M., Thursday, August 31, 2006, at Christ the King Catholic Church in Oklahoma City. Interment will be at St. Joseph Cemetery, Conway, Arkansas. 'Only in the agony of parting do we look into the depths of love.' George Eliot. SMITH & KERNKE 14624 N. MAY AVE
Published in The Oklahoman on 8/29/2006.