Pittstown - John J. O’Donnell III, (aka DJ) passed into eternal life October 4, 2023, in the comfort of his home with his loving wife and family by his side.
John was born in Albany, September 8, 1949, to his parents, the late John J. O’Donnell II and Janet M. (McDermott) O’Donnell, and is survived by his wife of 48 years, Carolyn O’Donnell, his children, Danedra O’Donnell, Karen Bauer, Amanda O’Donnell, and John J. O’Donnell IV, grandchildren, Micheline Madison, James Madison Jr., Kevin Bauer Jr., Addison Bauer, and Abbigail Hayner, and a great granddaughter, Paislee Garmley. John is also survived by sisters, Catherine Luciano and Alice O’Donnell, seven nieces and nephews, eleven great nieces and nephews, and eighteen great-great nieces and nephews.
After attending Albany City Schools, John enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. on October 1, 1968. After basic training he was deployed to Vietnam, where he earned the rank of Corporal and an Expert Marksman decoration. While there, he was part of a special operations group that helped train the local citizens in their own defense. On June 13, 1970, he was honorably discharged and returned to the capital district, serving out an additional two years with the Marine Corps Reserves.
John began his working career at an early age. He had a great work ethic and took great pride in providing for his family throughout his life. Since 1975, John was the owner and operator of O’Donnell Construction in Pittstown assisting many local families with their roofing and masonry projects.
John was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, and just walking in the woods. He enjoyed time spent with the beauty of nature and often would watch the birds and woodland animals from his yard. He was a motorcycle enthusiast, a proud Marine, volunteered with both the Boy Scouts of America and the Rensselaer County 4H Club in support of his son, and as a young man, assisted the Boys Club of Albany as a summer camp counselor and lifeguard at Camp Scully on Snyder’s Lake.
Relatives and friends are invited to call on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, from 10:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m. at the Pittstown United Methodist Church. A memorial service for John will follow at the church at 12:30 p.m., led by Rev. Jim Knapp and Community Hospice Chaplain, Rev. Jeffrey Palmer. Burial with military honors at Saratoga National Veteran Cemetery will take place at 2:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to a reception at the Pittstown Church Fellowship Hall following these services.
Memorial contributions, if desired in lieu of flowers, may be made to either the Pittstown United Methodist Church Parsonage Fund or to the Rensselaer County 4H Club in memory of John J. O’Donnell III. Those wishing to send floral gifts are encouraged to send a live plant that may be added to the family garden created to honor John.
John was born in Albany, September 8, 1949, to his parents, the late John J. O’Donnell II and Janet M. (McDermott) O’Donnell, and is survived by his wife of 48 years, Carolyn O’Donnell, his children, Danedra O’Donnell, Karen Bauer, Amanda O’Donnell, and John J. O’Donnell IV, grandchildren, Micheline Madison, James Madison Jr., Kevin Bauer Jr., Addison Bauer, and Abbigail Hayner, and a great granddaughter, Paislee Garmley. John is also survived by sisters, Catherine Luciano and Alice O’Donnell, seven nieces and nephews, eleven great nieces and nephews, and eighteen great-great nieces and nephews.
After attending Albany City Schools, John enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. on October 1, 1968. After basic training he was deployed to Vietnam, where he earned the rank of Corporal and an Expert Marksman decoration. While there, he was part of a special operations group that helped train the local citizens in their own defense. On June 13, 1970, he was honorably discharged and returned to the capital district, serving out an additional two years with the Marine Corps Reserves.
John began his working career at an early age. He had a great work ethic and took great pride in providing for his family throughout his life. Since 1975, John was the owner and operator of O’Donnell Construction in Pittstown assisting many local families with their roofing and masonry projects.
John was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, and just walking in the woods. He enjoyed time spent with the beauty of nature and often would watch the birds and woodland animals from his yard. He was a motorcycle enthusiast, a proud Marine, volunteered with both the Boy Scouts of America and the Rensselaer County 4H Club in support of his son, and as a young man, assisted the Boys Club of Albany as a summer camp counselor and lifeguard at Camp Scully on Snyder’s Lake.
Relatives and friends are invited to call on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, from 10:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m. at the Pittstown United Methodist Church. A memorial service for John will follow at the church at 12:30 p.m., led by Rev. Jim Knapp and Community Hospice Chaplain, Rev. Jeffrey Palmer. Burial with military honors at Saratoga National Veteran Cemetery will take place at 2:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to a reception at the Pittstown Church Fellowship Hall following these services.
Memorial contributions, if desired in lieu of flowers, may be made to either the Pittstown United Methodist Church Parsonage Fund or to the Rensselaer County 4H Club in memory of John J. O’Donnell III. Those wishing to send floral gifts are encouraged to send a live plant that may be added to the family garden created to honor John.