Services were held today for Eugene Joseph “Joe” O’Donovan, who died at age 55 at his home on Friday following declining health. He was very well known in the industry and spent his career working for top horticultural companies, including Oglevee, Goldsmith Seeds, broker Vaughan’s Seed and Paul Ecke Ranch.

He lived near geranium breeder-producer Oglevee in Pennsylvania and was a graduate of Connellsville Area High School and the Pennsylvania State University. He is survived by his daughter Erin and sons Brendan and Kevin.

Greenhouse Grower columnist Laurie Scullin worked with O’Donovan for many years at Ecke Ranch and shared his sentiments with us:

“Joe was often brought in to do the ‘hard’ stuff – he was a fixer, he was tough, Joe ‘got it’ and there was little that he saw that he did not understand. Joe was one of those rare people who told you exactly what was going on – even if you did not want to hear it. Pulling punches was never an O’Donovan trait. I came away from more than a few conversations well bloodied by Joe’s comments. If you look in Webster’s under ‘blunt,’ there is a picture of Joe.

“Joe gave good advice and I learned to greatly value his comments. He was usually right. Joe had a delivery style that was often very funny but occasionally very annoying. Those who knew Joe know of what I speak. Did I mention he was often blunt? Joe was often critical of peers and fellow staff as he expected everyone to care for the customers as much as he did. It was a great strength and occasionally a great weakness, if the company did not move quickly enough to a customer-centric focus.

“I never knew his customer focus to be anything but heart-felt and serious – a tad impatient, but always spot on. Joe leaves behind family who will miss him and an industry that was better for his presence. We will miss him, too.”