James Joseph O'Donnell

James (Jim) Joseph O’Donnell
April 25, 1932 – March 5, 2025

Jim was born April 25, 1932, in Winthrop, a suburb of Boston Massachusetts. His parents were James and Grace O’Donnell. He died March 5, 2025, in San Marcos California at the age of 92. He was married to Patricia Ann (nee Dwyer) O’Donnell for 69 and a half years.

Jim spent most of his early life in Dorchester. Growing up in Boston he witnessed Zeppelins bearing swastikas floating overhead, a portent of the turbulent times he was entering. As a youth he earned an unusually large amount of money by parking cars at Suffolk Downs Racetrack, which his mother deposited in his college fund. He was an usher at Fenway Park and witnessed many of the 1940s legendary ball players out on the Diamond.

His Father was a policeman who died early at age 47 when Jim was 16. As with most great loss, there is some small gain, and the bonds to his mother and brother Richard (Dick) were further strengthened. Jim relied on his mother’s shrewd advice, but rose to map his own path.

He graduated from Boston Latin High School in 1950, went on to graduate from Boston College in 1954 with an A.B. degree in History and Government, and the following year received an M.A. degree in History and Government from Boston College. He then worked for the National Security Agency in its cryptology division and later volunteered for the Army serving at Fort Gordon (now Eisenhower) near Augusta Georgia until 1957. He became an instructor of history at Newman Preparatory School, and in 1959 became a faculty member at State College Boston. Jim went on to attain his Ph.D. in American History at Boston University’s Graduate School in 1962. His dissertation was titled Thomas Cushing: A Reluctant Rebel. With his Ph.D. in hand, he moved on to teach history at Seton Hall University.

Jim entered the field of business and publishing at Sadlier Inc, and then to Xerox Education Publications as Executive Editor. Many grade school children fondly remember the My Weekly Reader issues he produced while at Xerox. His last career move was to join California State University – Northridge (CSUN) where he worked from 1976 to 1996 as the Dean of Continuing Education.

While developing his career. Jim had major events occurring in his personal life. In 1953 Jim went to a friend’s wedding and met Patricia (Pat) Ann Dwyer. Soon after that they went on a date to see the movie The House of Wax. They married on September 3, 1955, and had 5 children. They raised their children in homes located in Boston MA, South Orange NJ, Old Lyme CT, and Thousand Oaks California. They retired to Prescott AZ and later returned to California.

Jim closely followed sports and especially enjoyed discussing them with his brother Dick. He took the time to engage with his children and grandchildren in games of Parcheesi, Monopoly, Chess, and cards. He taught his daughter how to effectively swing a bat and there were many Wiffle Ball games with Jim and Janet vs. the brothers. The O’Donnell family enjoyed summer vacations at New Hampshire’s Lake Sunapee. Jim and his brother bought a Lymen boat to use at the lake, with which the family had many amusing misadventures. Like most fathers he loved to tell a good story repeatedly. He had nearly a total recall of past events to the smallest detail. His love for books, well-crafted writing, languages, and thoughtful political discussions informed by his deep knowledge of history made him an engaging conversationalist.

In 1976, Jim led his family on a memorable cross-country drive from Connecticut to California, beginning a new chapter in their lives. As a devoted father, he fostered a love of adventure in his children, making annual winter trips to Lake Tahoe where the family would go skiing. He also organized family expeditions to Montana, Wyoming, and other scenic destinations, creating lasting memories for his children and grandchildren.

Jim found his most satisfying job to be Dean of Secondary Education at CSUN. Here he was able to blend his experiences in education, publishing, and business to run the Secondary Education school.  He took over a school that was in financial distress and made it into a profitable worldwide enterprise for the CSUN campus. The work entailed foreign travel, which he loved, to places that included China, South Korea, Japan, Europe, the USSR, and India.  He was able to take Pat on many of these trips and share the world with her.

In January 1994 the Northridge Earthquake struck and devasted the CSUN campus. Jim was part of the task force that got the campus back on its feet with temporary buildings and continuing courses on nearby campuses.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Dick, nephew Dickie, and, tragically, his daughter Janet and grandson Keenan O’Donnell.

Jim is survived by his wife Pat and sons Kevin, Paul, David, and James along with daughters-in-law Jean, Maria, Darci, and Laura. He has 7 surviving grandchildren – Ryan, Connor, Michael, and Miranda O’Donnell along with Erik, Kurt, and Leif Wildforster. He has 4 great grandchildren – Ella and Ava Wildforster along with Calvin and Arthur Clark.

Jim did not want a funeral or memorial service. Jim would want you to remember the times shared with him and to have a wonderful life.