About Mike The Door Man
Born and raised…
Born and raised in Worcester’s South Side to a family of six, myself the youngest out of four other siblings. I attended Cambridge Street Elementary School and was the last class to graduate from the school since the City of Worcester closed it due to budget cuts in 1977. When I was twelve I began my first job, a paper route with 83 customers, I fondly remember my first winter hustling papers since we had the biggest snow storm Worcester has ever seen with the Blizzard of ’78. Money I earned from the paper route had to go into the bank according to Father, the excess was spent at the Dream Machine arcade in the old Worcester Galleria. I served as an altar boy at the Sacred Heart Church on Cambridge and went to CCD class there as well. I kept delivering newspapers right up through middle school which for me, was a big deal. Coming from a poor family I had the money to buy my own clothes, bikes and various other things that I wanted.
There were a lot of kids in my neighborhood growing up and life was pretty simple, hide and seek, jailbreak, wiffle ball in the street, basketball where-ever we could find a makeshift hoop. We always found something to do and if all else failed we would build forts in the trees. I played Little League baseball and Senior Little League at Maloneys field now know as the Harry Sherry field on Cambridge Street in Worcester. Since I was old enough to hold a bat in my hands, baseball has been my sport of choice. I still play today in an over 30 league with some of the guys I grew up with, we are older, huskier and slower but its a heck of a lot of fun.
The “Prov”…
I attended Providence Street School of the “Prov,” as we used to call it, for Junior High. I was always skinny as a kid probably because of all the times I missed the bus. Too scared to tell my pops’ I woke up late and missed the bus, I would spend my mornings trudging up Diamond hill in Worcester which was no picnic, it is still one of the steepest streets in Worcester. My family was not blessed with a whole lot of money, if you wanted something, you had to work for it. Going to McDonalds or having Pizza was a rare occurrence in our household. My mom was a great cook back in the day (and still is), she made sure we were always well fed and well clean.
I got my first real job in 1979, at Starr Scrap Metals on Ballard Street in Worcester, which was just recently torn down, due to the expansion of route 146. That same year I began High School at South High Community School up on Apricot hill. I was unable to play baseball because of my work schedule. My dad had skipped town by this time, leaving my mom to fend for herself with 4 kids. I was forced to work to help my mom keep food on the table and a roof over our head. I remember attending driving class at South like it was yesterday and I received my drivers license in my junior year. I dated a few different girls in high school, but when this smokin hot brunette a fresh transfer from Auburn High (my future wife, Cheryl) walked into my class that sunny fall morning, my life took on a whole new meaning. Twenty three years later we are still going strong!
Those Army Days…
At the start of my Senior year in High School I enlisted in the U.S. Army. I needed to get away, home life was tough and I needed to start my own life down my own path. I kick myself now for this but I didn’t place much value on education back then so college was never a consideration. I graduated in the spring of 1983 and entered military service in the fall of 1983 through the fall of 1987. The rock and roll music of the 1980s was like no other decade and my favorite band was and still is today, AC/DC. I don’t listen to them that much anymore, but back in the day, cruising around the base down in Panama or up in NY it sure was my band of choice. I was assigned to the 62 Bravo heavy Equipment repair and I did my Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. I decided in Basic, to sign up for Airborne Infantry Training. AIT was the experience of a lifetime, I had never even been on a plane before, let alone jump out of one! Wow what a view.!! AIT was down at Fort Benning, GA. Five weeks of rigorous calisthenics and cardio training whipped me into the best shape of my life. After 5 successful jumps and a final night jump I received my wings baby! A nice pair of silver wings that I proudly wore on my uniform and man did they look good.
Hey, I Think I Want To Be A Door Guy…
This world has some very beautiful parts especially around the Panama Canal. I had a motorcycle for most of my time there and aside from avoiding the almost daily down pours I saw some amazing sights. It was very hot and and the bugs/spiders were massive and wildlife was everywhere. However one of the things I remember the most was how poor people in the country were, raising chickens and pigs right in there makeshift huts just for survival.
I was stationed in Panama for two years and was then sent to what seemed like the frozen tundra, Ft Drum in upstate NY for the rest of my term of service. I was honorably discharged in 1987 and found a job working for Overhead Door Company in Watertown NY to support my new family since my high school sweet heart Cheryl, and I were married in the spring of 1986. When Cheryl gave birth to our first son, Shawn in the summer of 1989. We decided to move back to MA to be with our families. From the fall of 1989-1995 I managed a local door company in Worcester. Beginning in January of 1995 big changes began for the Donovan house hold as we welcomed our second son, Joshua. In October of 1995 I put in my two week notice and started Donovan Door Service now Worcester Door Company.
Aside From My Business…
I am a dedicated father of two boys and have been married to the love of my life for 23 years. I have a passion for baseball, and I have coached for over 15 years at two different leagues. Ty-Cobb LL. and Southside Babe Ruth. I am also an active member of the Worcester area baseball umpires association. I am a licensed contractor as well as a licensed real estate agent. I attend Liberty Church in Shrewsbury MA. And also attend at the Worcester Dream Center.