He is the Mickey to her Minnie, the Donald to her Daisy, the Jim to her Dawn. The Disney-loving Donovans have been married for over 60 years and have been Berkeley Square residents for more than five. Their journey of falling in love with Berkeley Square began well before changing their home address — with frequent visits to the Coach House, partaking in events on campus, and signing up for Mystery Lunches.
“It’s the best-kept secret,” Dawn explains about why she and Jim chose to move to Berkeley Square. They also value the lasting friendships and meaningful connections they’ve made with their neighbors.
From World Traveling to “Rightsizing”
Jim and Dawn met 60 years ago during a high school production of “Bye Bye Birdie,” where Dawn was on stage, and Jim was playing trombone in the show’s orchestra. The two married in June 1962 and moved all over the country from Illinois to Iowa to Kansas City. The pair would end up in Cincinnati, Ohio, for Jim to take a position with P&G, where he would eventually retire at age 55.
Jim’s career has taken him all over the world for work. “I’ve worked in 20 different countries,” he shares. But it was his trips to Disney World, where he would attend Disney University courses for his work in engineering, that would turn the Donovans into lifetime Disney fans. Their love of Disney has earned its very own room in their home office, which is filled from floor to ceiling with Mickey and Minnie figurines, artwork and collectibles galore.
And while Orlando may be Jim and Dawn’s favorite place to vacation, their beloved home is at Berkeley Square. Some may look at moving into a retirement community as downsizing, but the Donovans call it “rightsizing,” or a way to “define for themselves what they think their needs really are,” describes Jim.
Finding Friends along the Way
Moving to Berkeley Square also had the added benefits of creating new friendships and connections with neighbors who share similar life experiences and the tenacity to live life to the fullest. It’s a familiar sentiment often shared by other Berkeley Square residents like the McKnights and the Thoms.
“There is a lot of life here,” Dawn shares, and knew the moment they drove through the vibrant community on a bright spring day in 2019 that this was the place for them.
Making an Insightful Decision
Jim would tell anyone that his wife “has a sense of insight about stuff,” and that moving to Berkeley Square was one of the most insightful decisions they have made. This is a perfect example of how Jim would define the secret to a perfect marriage, “do whatever she says,” with a hearty chuckle.
Jim and Dawn have a zest for life, which shines through the street parties they help host, their constant engagement with their neighborhood, and of course, the love they have for each other. They have found that Disney happy-ending feeling in their home at Berkeley Square and are enjoying every moment of it.
Don’t Wait Another Day
Have you been exploring your own transition to Independent Living? Learn why now might be the exact right time to make the move.
Our knowledgeable senior-living team is also here to offer their expertise and invite you to contact us for more information, schedule a visit, or attend an upcoming Explore & Tour Event at our Berkeley Square and Westover communities.
Last updated: July 14, 2025. This article was originally published on April 2, 2024.
