John J. O’Donnell ("JJ"), beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather passed away peacefully on March 20, surrounded by his loving children. He was 97 years old. John was preceded in death by his beautiful wife Frances O'Donnell. John and Fran were married for 74 years. John was also preceded in death by his parents, John and Gladys O'Donnell and siblings, Bill, Tom and Eileen.
John was born on January 14, 1925 in Dracut, Massachusetts. He graduated from Dracut High School. When he was seventeen he enlisted in the U.S Navy and served during WWII in the Pacific theater. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1946. In 1949 John enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served during the Korean conflict. He was honorably discharged in 1952. He was subsequently assigned to Lincoln Laboratory, the Air Force Cambridge Research Center at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In 1956, John ("JJ") was hired by Eastern Airlines as a pilot. He was a Captain for Eastern Airlines and retired after 30 years of service. He was elected President of the Air Line Pilots Association in 1971 and served 3 terms. President Ronald Reagan appointed him to the National Productivity Advisory Committee in 1981. He was also a member of the Reagan Administration and served as Assistant Secretary of Labor for 2 years. John was Vice President and a member of the Executive Council of the AFL-CIO. He was a member of the Board of Governors of the United Way and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars as well as the American Legion.
John and Fran shared a wonderful life with family, travel, and laughs for 74 years. He was a strong, kind and generous man. He was a man who loved his family more than anything and was so very proud of each of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He will be missed very much.
John is survived by his daughters, Sheila Whittredge (Gary) Humble, TX, Robin Carney (Michael) Ashburn, VA and son Jeff J. O'Donnell, Charleston, SC; his grandchildren, Scott Fowler (Anca), Ken Fowler, Kelly O'Donnell (Matt), Jeff John O'Donnell Jr, Katie Smith (Justin), Meghan Hoy (Ryan), Joshua O'Donnell and Joseph O'Donnell; his great grandchildren, Colin and Evan Smith, Brielle and Beckett Hoy, Eric Fowler and Quentin Rudzinski.
A Celebration of Life for John O'Donnell will be held at Serenity Gardens in Largo, Florida on April 2, 2022 at 11:00 am.
To view J.J.'s Celebration of Life, please follow the link below
https://vimeo.com/user163466947
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.serenityfuneralhomelargo.com for the O'Donnell family.
