Anne Donovan, Remembered

Did you ever pass the display case on the first floor of the Ridgewood Public Library (near the periodicals) and wonder what it was all about? Ridgewood-born Anne Donovan, who donated the photographs, medals and autographed basketball included in the display, was a trailblazer in women’s sports. Her storied basketball career started at Paramus Catholic where the 6'8" Donovan made such an impression that she was recruited by over 200 colleges. She went on to win two Olympic Gold medals, a National Championship at Old Dominion University where she was a three-time All American, and a gold medal for coaching the 2008 U.S. women’s basketball team. She also has the distinction of being the first woman to coach a team to the WNBA championship.

On July 13, 2018 at the age of 56, Anne Donovan passed away from heart failure. Her memory lives on through her family, her community, and her accomplishments. We invite you to stop by the library and enjoy the memories she so graciously shared with our community. A simple display for an extraordinary athlete.

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