Donovan Andreas Johnson-Coleman

Donovan Andreas Johnson-Coleman made his debut on 26 June 1999 at 0504 at the Women’s Hospital Birth Center at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He was the first college baby for Patrielle Johnson and Benjamin Coleman and their Michigan campus family. Donovan welcomed his brother Gabriel Patrick on 01 April 2001. The two would be inseparable. Following graduation and commissioning into the US Navy in December 2001, Donovan, Gabriel and Patrielle moved to Rockville, Maryland in February 2002 when his mother was stationed at National Naval Medical Center Bethesda. As a toddler and young child, Donovan demonstrated a keen ability for building and fixing things, and a passion for cars. He played with Legos, cars and tools and had an amazing ability to problem solve and repair things. In March 2004 Donovan’s family expanded when he gained Michael Howard as his dad and Makoto Howard and Fumiya Oshiro as brothers. He attended Heather Hills Elementary for the 2004-2005 school year as a kindergartener. In May 2005 Donovan and his family moved to Jacksonville, Florida when his mother was stationed at Naval Hospital Jacksonville. He attended Wayman Academy for the 2005-2006 school year as a first grader, then Thomas Jefferson Elementary for second and third grades, 2006 - 2008. In third grade, Donovan’s academic prowess and creative side blossomed. He was recognized for excellent grades and being the most outrageous storyteller in his class. He welcomed two more brothers, Michael Romerro (2005) and Julian Marcel (2007). Donovan then moved to Gricignano di Aversa, Italy when his mother was stationed at Naval Hospital Naples. He attended Naples Elementary School for fourth and fifth grade, 2008-2010, and Naples Middle School for sixth grade, 2010-2011. Donovan returned to Jacksonville, Florida with his family and attended Oceanway Middle School for seventh and eighth grades, 2011-2013. In 2013 Donovan moved to Guam with his family, when his mother was stationed at Naval Hospital Guam, where he attended Guam High School as a freshman, sophomore and junior, 2013-2016. While attending Guam High School, Donovan truly began to explore who he wanted to become and in what activities he had interest. Donovan joined the drama club and participated in musical productions to include Winterfest and an adaptation of Roger’s and Hammerstein’s South Pacific. He joined the chorus and traveled to South Korea for a Department of Defense Education Activity choral extravaganza. Donovan decided to try his hand at sports during his sophomore year of high school. He played volleyball, tried out for football, and made the All- Island Football team in 2016. As a member of the track team, he set records for Guam High school in shot put (12lb), discus (1.6kg) and javelin (700 gram, 144’ 10.5”), a
 

record that has been unbroken to date. In 2016 he placed first in the All- Island Track and Field meet for the men’s Javelin. In the summer of 2016 Donovan moved to Jacksonville, NC with his family when his mother was stationed at Naval Medical Center Camp LeJeune. He attended Jacksonville High School, explored the arts program, continued playing football and graduated in June 2017. In August 2017, Donovan moved to Denver to attend the University of Colorado to study Mechanical Engineering. Donovan left the University of Colorado in May 2019 to pursue his love of cars full time. He worked as an Engine Specialist Apprentice at the Larry H. Miller car dealerships in Thornton. After exploring aspects of working as a mechanic within a dealership, Donovan tried his hand at other career options while continuing to work on cars on the side. Donovan explored banking with Sunflower Bank, worked as a water mitigation specialist with Relion, and flourished as a Maintenance Engineer at several properties in the metro Denver area with Unico properties and the Wasatch Group.

Donovan was so much more than can be written. In his own words:

“Donovan is patient and kind. Donovan is not jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Donovan does not demand his own way. Donovan is not irritable, and he keeps no record of when he has been wronged. Donovan is never rejoicing at injustice, but he rejoices when the truth wins the battle. Donovan never gives up, never loses faith.
He’s always hopeful and he endures through everything.”

Donovan was an awesome, loving, caring, kind and hard-working person. He fiercely loved his brothers, family, and friends. Donovan was the person who would stop and help a stranger on the side of the road who was having car trouble. He would engage a stranger in a new place and leave with a new friend. He would give you the shirt from his back even if it meant he would be cold.

Donovan was intelligent, creative, and imaginative. He was adventurous and a thrill seeker, whether it was boonies-stomping in the mountains and jungles of Guam, hiking up Mount Vesuvius and Mount Etna, in the mountains in Colorado or Wyoming, or racing cars and motorcycles. He was an amazing son, brother, grandson, great-grandson, cousin, nephew, and friend. Donovan unexpectedly departed this life on 15 December 2023 at 24 years of age. He leaves his parents, brothers, grandparents, maternal great-grandmother, aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces, other family and friends, to cherish his memory, carry on his legacy, and love him.

The family has mental health therapy and grief counseling services available through Candor Consulting Firm

https://linktr.ee/candorconsultingfirm