Walter John Donovick Walter (Wally) John Donovick passed away peacefully on Friday March 24 2023 after a short illness. He would have been 95 on April 5. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 51 years, Stephanie.

His parents, Anthony Dawnorowicz and Marcela Urbanowicz. Were Polish immigrants and resided in South Boston. His mother later remarried Michael Pietrowski who fathered Wally for most of his life.

Wally also had an older sister, Wanda, who passed away at the age of 19. His sister, Helen, passed away in 1968. Wally and Stephanie lived in South Boston then moved to Rockland in 1958. Wally continued to live on Exchange Street after Stephanie’s passing for a total of 54 years. The door was always open for friends and neighbors and there were many cookouts in the backyard. Wally was famous for his cooking. He then moved to an apartment in Weymouth and loved living there for 10 years. He made wonderful friends at the Camelot apartments. It was across the street from the Knights of Columbus of which he was actively involved.

As his independence became more challenging, Wally moved into assisted care at Allerton House in Weymouth and again made friends with all the staff and residents.

Wally is survived by his children, daughter, Diane Donovick of Sydney, Australia, and her daughter Corey Lavorato and husband, Michael and their children, Joseph and Christian, daughter Christine Harrison and husband Matthew and their children, Cailin and Ashton and son Robert Towner all from Sydney Australia, daughter Deborah Brassington and her husband, John from Rockland and their children, daughter, Janelle Lyons and her husband, Michael and their children, Aurora and Hunter, from Hull, son Dean Brassington from Rockland, daughter Kailee Rice and her husband Daniel and their children, Nolen Walter and soon to be Baby Rice from Braintree, son, Stephen Donovick and wife, Lynn from Houston, Texas and son, Richard Donovick and wife, Gretchen from Dallas Texas.

Wally will be sadly missed by his niece Laurie Solomon and her husband, Robert from Pembroke. They were extremely involved in Wally’s life and instrumental to his health, life, and well-being. They shared every sad and happy moment of his life always available to help him with anything he needed. Laurie nursed him in his final days always by his side as she typically was. He loved them dearly. Wally was predeceased by his loving friend, Patricia Guerriero who gave him much happiness for years after Stephanie’s passing. Wally lived a full and active life. He worked as a tool and die maker for most of his life and for many years at Merriman’s in Hingham until after years of standing all day he developed an ulcerated leg and he had to retire This condition continued to cause health problems for the rest of his life but it did not stop him from volunteering and engaging fully in daily life. Wally and Stephanie were able to enjoy traveling overseas to Australia, Hawaii, Spain, Germany and as well as go on four cruises. Wally even traveled to Australia a second time with his son-in-law John and granddaughter, Kailee to surprise his daughter Diane on her 50th birthday. He especially loved going to Texas to visit his sons Stephen and Richie. The family vacation highlight was a trip to Disney World in 2008 where his Australian family were able to join him. Wally’s last trip was in 2019 with his daughter’s Diane and Debbie to Washington DC to see the Marine Corps Museum and then onto Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Wally enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1945 and this was the core of his life. ‘Once a Marine, always a Marine’ was how he lived. Wally rose to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant and was fondly known as ‘Gunny’. He transferred from active duty to the Reserves in 1951 which meant giving up one weekend every month and two weeks each year as service to this country. When Wally made the return trip to Camp Lejeune in 2019, he was so proud to show his daughter, Diane, where his Marine career all began. By the end of the two days we were there, everyone on the Base knew who Wally was. He was treated as a hero and he told everyone he met his Marine Corp journey. Wally loved volunteering at Toys for Tots from 2003 to 2017. This involved going into Boston each day from October to January. The Marines were all retired and over the age of 60. They raised money, bought toys, contacted anyone and everyone for toy donations, liaised with organizations who needed the toys, fulfilled toy orders, kept the warehouse in order and in between asked any cafe, donut shop or restaurant for breakfast and lunch donations to feed the volunteers. Sean Sullivan always stepped up to the task providing food from Dunkin Donuts. Wally was also actively involved in the Top 3, a group of retired Army, Navy and Marine personnel. They raised money for Wounded Soldiers, Knights of Columbus, the VA in Brockton amongst just a few of the organizations they supported. He made lots of friends especially Frank, who lived in the Camelot apartment across the hall. He also spoke highly of John Bourne, Karen MacWilliams, Dave Kuja and Paul Bracken and many, many more amazing people over the years.

One of the highlights of Wally’s recent life was being able to attend the retirement of Admiral William Mcraven. Bill is married to Gorgeann who is the sister of Richie’s wife, Gretchen. Wally felt he was amongst military royalty when he attended both Bill’s retirement from the Navy and then the change in command ceremony. They, in return, made him feel a special part of their inner circle. Wally and Stephanie were heavily involved in volunteer work throughout the years and were awarded Citizens of Rockland a number of times for their work especially with the Booster Club. This included selling hot dogs at every home game for all Rockland sports. They became known as ‘Wally’s Wieners’ Wally and Steph also volunteered at Holy Family School and Holy Family Church when their children attended the school.

In his later years, Wally was the King of Bingo at the Knights of Columbus on Friday nights. He sold the Bingo cards, Hot Hots tickets and had great fun calling the numbers. The ladies loved the attention he showed them. The connection he made with them was so special.

Wally loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He remembered all their names and their birthdates and ages. He was able to get to know his great grandson’s Joseph and Christian from Australia when they visited back in 2016 and 2018. And through the marvelous technology of FaceTime, he would talk to his other great grandchildren, Cailin and Ashton. He always wanted to know what they were doing when Diane FaceTimed Wally. Great grandchildren, Nolan, Aurora and Hunter were always excited to visit him at Allerton House and he looked forward to their visits. Nolan, especially, would talk to his Grampy sometimes in a language only a Grandfather could understand. Wally was looking forward to birth of Nolan’s baby brother in a few weeks but we know that Wally will continue to look after each of them from above. Wally was much loved by everyone he met throughout his life. His family have been receiving so many messages from family, friends and acquaintances who have all given us their wonderful memories of how he made them feel Wally always had a smile, joking with each person he met. When we returned to Allerton House on Monday, there was a notice at the entry to the dining room of Wally’s passing. We watched as the residents stopped and looked and were shocked that he had passed on. Then Richie interrupted them to say he was Wally’s son. They immediately wanted us to know how sad it was because Wally has passed. He was always having a joke with them, saying hello to everyone every time he passed them in the corridors or sat next to them at craft or at concerts or Friday drinks. They wanted us to know how much he will be missed.

Wally lived his life with much enjoyment and fit so much into his 94 years. We all should be grateful that he was part of our lives and continue to follow his legacy of being kind and caring to others and to remember to make others feel loved.

He will be deeply missed by his entire family and many loving friends. The Donovick family invites friends and loved ones to celebrate his life in the Magoun-Biggins Funeral Home, 135 Union St. Rockland, on Thursday March 30, 2023 from 5-8 PM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, March 31, 2023 at 9:00 AM in the Holy Family Church, 403 Union St. in Rockland Burial will follow in the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Wally's name to the Wounded Warriors or Toys for Tots.