Donovan, you may recall, was the guy who got lost on the Pacific Crest Trail in May 2005, got trapped in a canyon and eventually perished, and the gear left in his pack helped a couple lost hikers summon help a year later. His former employer has named a short trail in his honor, according to the Richmond Times Dispatch.
Yesterday, his memory and passion helped create a trail that will serve the people he loved, the mentally ill.
The nearly milelong walking trail was dedicated at Central State Hospital under clearing skies, laughter and a few tears as co-workers recalled the occasionally eccentric, sometimes lost, always faithful Donovan, a longtime social worker.
“There was a time or two he was picked up by police, who thought he was an escapee,” said Jean Sharp, who knew Donovan as a brilliant fellow who shunned computers, loved his clients and had a raucous, ear-splitting laugh.
Goes to show there’s something to be said for being nice, and being a, shall we say, memorable character. It’s one way to make sure people remember we were here.
Backpacker magazine recently had an interesting story about Donovan. Unfortunately, it is apparently not online.
I bought that issue of the magazine solely to read that article. It concludes the obvious, that operator error resulted in Donovan’s demise, but it also draws a portrait of a fascinating guy. Probably a good movie in there if somebody took a notion to write a screenplay.