Gave up medical school
At a young age, she decided to forgo medical-school aspirations to care for her ailing mother — a choice that shaped a distinguished career in education and a lifetime of service to others.
She was a 1955 graduate of Matignon High School, Regis College (B.A., cum laude, ’59) and Boston College (M.Ed., ’62). She continued postgraduate studies at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education and Bowdoin College.
Mrs. Donovan began her career teaching in Chelsea and Everett schools and was the first lay teacher at the Immaculate Conception School. She rose from teacher to administrator in the Everett Public Schools, making history as the district’s first female superintendent. Guided by her fundamental philosophy that “every child matters,” Mr. Donovan was a widely recognized and revered leader in education.
Her work earned her an invitation from U.S. House Speaker Tip O’Neill to speak at the 1983 White House Conference on Education, where she was presented a Certificate of Merit in 1985 by U.S. Secretary of Education William Bennett. It also took her abroad — to chair educational conferences in Helsinki, Finland, and China to study early childhood models. She then went home to Boston, where she served as Vice Chair of the commission that unified the University of Massachusetts and Boston State College.
She went on to lead the school districts of York, Maine, and Arlington, respectively, where she constructed schools, secured millions of dollars in grant funding to invigorate math, science, research and athletics in her schools, launched employee child-care programs and negotiated a $10 million contaminated land remediation with major energy corporations, resulting in new athletic fields and facilities at Arlington High School.
Her lifelong career dedication extended well into her retirement years, with teaching school law at Emmanuel College and as president of Pope John XXIII High School in Everett, where she established an international boarding school. An entrepreneurial spirit, Kay remained actively involved in her family business for her entire life.
She will be fondly remembered as a brilliant educator, champion for children, fierce advocate for women’s empowerment and a loyal friend. Kay was a charismatic presence who embraced life with joy, curiosity and grace. She leaves us with a legacy of wisdom, generosity, and love that inspires those who knew her.
School-rebuilding efforts
Under her superintendency, six Arlington elementary schools were rebuilt and one was revamped, starting in 1998. Rebuilt were the Brackett, Bishop, Hardy, Peirce, Thompson and Dallin. Revamped was the Stratton. The Ottoson Middle School was also rebuilt.
The 2015 book “Legendary Locals of Arlington” by Marjorie Howard and Barbara Goodman published this about Donovan:
“The Arlington School Committee voted unanimously to appoint Donovan to the position of superintendent of schools in the summer of 1994. She was charged with creating excellent schools and implementing an ambitious plan to reconstruct the middle school and all seven elementary school buildings.
“Very early in her tenure, Donovan initiated a strategic planning process called ‘Our Children, Our Future, Our Plan.’ She brought hundreds of parents, teachers, community members and town officials together to create a vision and blueprint for the future of Arlington schools.
“In accordance with the plan, she introduced technology into the schools, started full-day kindergarten, implemented an elementary Spanish program, applied for and was awarded thousands of dollars in grants to provide professional development and revise curriculum.
“In 2005, when financing this plan was jeopardized by a loss of state aid, Donovan helped lead a successful campaign to raise the property taxes by $6 million to fund educational and other town programs.
“Funding the reconstruction projects again required hard-fought campaigns to convince voters to increase their property taxes. Almost nightly for weeks, Donovan spoke passionately about the need to rebuild dilapidated school facilities and convinced residents that ‘for the price of a new pair of sneakers we shall educate your children for a lifetime.’
“Her energy along with that of many others, led to winning two campaigns — one in 1998 and again in 2000. …Another challenge was the discovery of chemical pollutants in the field next to the high school. Donovan and other town officials spent years debating with the corporations that had once owned and contaminated the land. Donovan persisted until they reached a negotiated settlement of $10 million, not only to clean and remediate the property but also to provide artificial turf football and soccer fields, a basketball court and bleachers.”
Survivors, visiting hours
Along with her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her brother Joseph Philbin, sister Mary (Philbin) Gorman and her husband, John; brother-in-law John Donovan, and his wife, Marguerite. She is survived by her brother Andrew Philbin and his wife Mary of Lynnfield, sister-in-law Ellen Philbin of Everett, brother-in-law Robert Donovan of Chelsea and her extensive family of adoring nieces, nephews, and their children.
Visiting hours were Wednesday, April 23, from 3 to 7 p.m., at Keefe Funeral Home, 5 Chestnut St., Arlington. A Mass of Christian Burial was be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, April 24, at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 32 Medford St., Arlington.
This news obituary, published April 16, 2025, was written from an email and YourArlington archives and was updated.
