J. Dennis O’Donnell, 57, of Danvers, died suddenly on Sunday, April 25, 2010 while vacationing in New York City. He was the loving husband of Gail (Harrison) O’Donnell, with whom he shared 34 years of marriage.
Born in Cincinnati, OH on Feb. 14, 1953, he was the son of Barbara (Horne) (O’Donnell) Carmody of Danvers and the late Joseph O’Donnell. Dennis was raised and educated in Cincinnati and Danvers and was a graduate of Danvers High School, Class of 1971. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Salem State College in 1974 and master’s degree from Marshall University in West Virginia in 1977.
A lifelong educator, Dennis retired as a principal from the Gloucester school system. He had previously worked as a teacher and principal in Fayette County, West Virginia.
Known for his wonderful sense of humor, he loved to cook and was an avid Boston sports fan. He especially enjoyed fishing and traveling with his wife.
In addition to his wife and mother, he leaves two children, Colleen O’Donnell Finocchiaro and her husband James of Danvers and Timothy O’Donnell of New York City, two brothers, Paul and Mark O’Donnell, both of Danvers, his sister-in-law and brothers-in-law, Kathy(Eramo), Jerry, Billy, and Brian Harrison, and many nieces and nephews.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, April 30, 2010 at 10AM in Saint Richard Church, 90 Forest St., Danvers. Relatives and friends are invited. Burial will be private. Visiting hours are Thursday from 4-8PM in C.R. Lyons & Sons, Funeral Directors, 28 Elm St., Danvers Square. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dennis’ name may be made to St. Mary Star of the Sea School, 13 Chapman St., Beverly, MA 01915 or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Rd., 2nd fl., Bethesda, MD 20814.