Archabbot Egbert Donovan was born in Buffalo, New York, on January 15, 1913, the son of the late James D. and Loretta (Thompson) Donovan. He attended Saint Mary Parochial School in Massillon, Ohio, and graduated from Saint Vincent Preparatory School in 1931. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Vincent College in 1936, a Master of Arts from Saint Vincent Seminary in 1938, and a Master of Education from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.