By Marley Seaman
Next year, Donovan's name could be added to the 9/11 memorial plaque in Reese Veterans Memorial Park. Like village residents Scott Bart, James Haran and Diane Urban, Donovan was working at the World Trade Center on the morning of the attacks. She was 34 at the time, and had spent more than 25 years of her life in Malverne.
"It¹s a long time coming," said her sister Jeanine Wiese. "We were at a loss for words when her name wasn't on ‹ we didn't understand why, and our father was the same. We consider ourselves Malverne no matter what."
The memorial was unveiled on the first anniversary of the attacks, and village Trustee Bill Malone said that at the time it was designed, trustees decided to restrict the names on the plaque to those who were residents at the time. Donovan was living with her father, James Donovan Sr., in Lynbrook when she died. The Donovan family felt that Jacqueline¹s name should have been included, and her father periodically spoke to village trustees about adding her name before his own death in 2004.
"[Trustees] were afraid ... there would be so many people coming forward," said Malone, who was not on the Board of Trustees in 2002. "It's been five years, and there¹s only been one name that¹s come forward. That's Jackie Donovan," he explained. ³There seems to be no objection if we were to add Jackie¹s name, and I think it would be very appropriate."
The village board has not officially discussed the idea, but Malone said he has had informal conversations with some trustees. He has also spoken to the families of Haran and Urban. So far, no one has had a problem with adding Donovan¹s name to the memorial. "I can't see anyone voicing any objection to adding the name," Malone said.
A graduate of Nassau Community College, Jackie Donovan was working on the 89th floor of the World Trade Center's south tower, a secretary at the firm Keefe, Bruyette and Woods.
Wiese said her sister was a remarkably outgoing woman, and the life of any party ‹ including the many that Donovan organized. She remained friends for life with several of her first-grade classmates from Our Lady of Lourdes.
Donovan¹s other sister, Patrice Kelleher of Lynbrook, remembers Jackie¹s creative Halloween costumes and her love of social gatherings.
"She just knew everybody," said Wiese. ³Whether you were the man sweeping the street or you were the mayor of Malverne. She could talk to anybody about anything. Every place we went, she knew somebody.²
Changes to memorial
The addition of Donovan's name would not be the first alterations to the plaque. A correction was required when it was discovered that Haran's last name was misspelled.
The process might be more complicated this time, however. At least part of the plaque would need to be removed to make room for Donovan's name. And even if the change were approved soon, Malone said, it would not be made before next spring. The village would also have to get in touch with the memorial's designers, if possible, and figure out who would do the work.
Kelleher is optimistic that her sister's name will be added to the memorial, and said that her father would be pleased. "I'm really happy that her name is going to be on that plaque," she said. ³He and Jackie were very similar, very, very similar. We always joke around that they're having a ball, wherever they are."
Comments about this story? Mseaman@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 205.
