Timothy M. “Tim” Donovan, 52, a resident of Unity and Acworth died June 29^th 2009, of injuries sustained from a glider accident during a national competition in Ephrata, Washington State.  Tim had a passion for soaring with the eagles and spent many precious hours viewing life from high above the mountains.

He was born in Schenectady, New York on October 28, 1956 the son of Timothy J. and June R. (Wurth) Donovan.

 He was a graduate of Florida Institute of Technology with a degree in oceanography.  Tim founded Optimum Manufacturing in the back of his truck in 1985.  He built and expanded the high-precision optical housing firm in Claremont and Charlestown until August 2008 when the company was purchased by Corning Corporation.

He had a lifelong love for aviation and had piloted all types of aircraft for 30 years, flying everything from hang gliders and sailplanes to turbo-prop jets.  The pride of his squadron by far, was his 1956 Cessna 310, affectionately referred to as the Emerald Eagle.  He was an active member of the Soaring Society of America (SSA), the Vermont Hang Gliders Association (VHGA), the New England Soaring Association (NESA), the Blue Ridge Soaring Society (BRSS) in Virginia and the Sugarbush Soaring Society (SSS) of Warren, VT.

He was an incorporator of the Claremont Savings Bank and a member of B.P.O.E. (Elks) Lodge #879.

He is survived by his wife, Cathy Carter, of Unity; his mother, June Donovan, of Scotia, NY, and his father, Timothy J. (Catherine) Donovan of  Las Vagas, Nevada; two brothers, Robert Donovan of Hot Springs, Arkansas and Brian (Kathryn) Donovan of Rexford, NY; also nieces,  nephews and two half-brothers, along with friends and colleagues who loved him like family.  He was predeceased by one sister, Patricia Donovan.

A memorial service will be held at Bond Funeral Home, Broadway and Guilderland Avenue, Schenectady, NY on Friday afternoon July 10, 2009 at 3 pm to which relatives and friends are invited to attend. A visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday from 1 to 3 pm prior to the memorial service.

A memorial service to celebrate Timothy’s life will be held Saturday, July 11^th at 1 PM at the Morningside Flight Park, 357 Morningside Lane, Charlestown, NH.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tim Donovan Memorial Flight Fund, care of Claremont Savings Bank, P.O. Box 1600, Claremont, NH 03743