ABSTRACT
Richard Donovan, age 70, was the older of two children. His sister, age 55, now lived in a different state, and his parents had recently died. Mr. Donovan never married, instead devoting 45 years of service to the local high school, first as an English teacher and later as the principal. Described by his colleagues as gentlemanly and civil, Principal Donovan valued rules and procedures that served him well in his academic roles. He could be a perfectionist at times, based on his belief that high standards were needed to mold children into proper adults. Colleagues, as well as parents of students, often noted he could be rigid and controlling. To fill his days after retirement, Mr. Donovan decided to volunteer at the high school where he had served so long. However, this experience did not go well; he often tried to take over projects and was described by other volunteers as bossy and domineering. Mr. Donovan became easily offended by what he called the inefficiency of the other volunteers. This would be followed by a ranting discourse on how the younger generation had deteriorated, exhibiting behaviors that would not have been tolerated while he was principal. Mr. Donovan had long been accustomed to having people serve him in his personal life; being unmarried, he hired people to clean and cook for him. Interested in academic pursuits, he retained a handyman and a mechanic to complete lawn care and car repair. However, as his health deteriorated, Mr. Donovan began to demand the same servile treatment from professionals in the health care system. He was often frustrated, as he believed the health care providers did not “put forth their best efforts” and were “unresponsive” to his needs. When confronted, Mr. Donovan became more demanding of those around him, which led to many health care workers avoiding him in response to his sharp criticism.
