Jim O'Donnell Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

James A. O’Donnell, Jr. “Jim” - 88 of Cape May and formerly of Pennsauken, NJ, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Tuesday, June 13, 2017 at the Veteran’s Memorial Home in Vineland. Jim was born in Camden where he attended Holy Name School and Woodrow Wilson High School. He graduated from Temple University with a degree in English Literature. Jim enlisted in the United States Air Force and served in the Korean War as a radio operator on the fighter planes. He also taught English to the South Korean children. Jim met the love of his life, Carolyn (Lex) while they both attended Woodrow Wilson High School. They were married, and raised four children. They moved to Allentown, PA where Jim was a reporter with the Morning Call newspaper. After getting a job as Director of Catholic Charities in Philadelphia, the family moved back to New Jersey and lived in Pennsauken. Jim later worked for McClosky Developers and was instrumental in building the former Veteran’s Stadium in Philadelphia. He became the Public Relations Director for the first professional soccer team, the Philadelphia Atoms, who went on to win the NASL Championship in 1973. Many fond family memories for family and friends who attended the games. Jim started his own Public Relations business, O’Donnell Associates, and worked for the Camden County Sheriff’s Department. Jim and Carolyn moved to Cape May when they retired in 1989. Both were very active in the community. As a parishioner of Star of the Sea Church, Jim became a Eucharistic Minister and would take communion to those in need. Jim was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, and became an AA sponsor. During the 1990’s he wrote a beautiful human interest column called “Clam Chatter” for the Cape May Star and Wave newspaper. He was also politically active and volunteered to work at voting polls and urged everyone to get out and vote in important elections. James was a wonderful writer and an avid reader. He was very active and played tennis at the Cape May Tennis Club and swam in the ocean all summer and at the Von Savage pool in the winter. You could always see him riding his bike or on his scooter around town and stopping to have conversations with all he met. He had a breakfast club at his home each week to catch up on all the local news. Jim loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a dedicated family man and lived life with grace and kindness. Jim is predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Carolyn (2014); his brothers, Bobby, Charlie, and Kenny, and sisters, Alice and Mary. Jim will be dearly missed by his loving family which includes his four children, Lisa (Allen) Taylor, James (Catherine) O’Donnell, Maria (Michael) Sheehan, and David (Carol) O’Donnell; his sister, Kathleen (Vince) Lovett; sisters-in-law, Jane and Marion O’Donnell; eight grandchildren; six great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday (June 24th) at 11AM in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 525 Washington Street, Cape May, where friends will be received from 10-11AM. Jim loved bright colors, please dress colorfully. Interment will follow at the Cape May County Veterans Cemetery. (Spilker Funeral Home Cape May) Info and condolences: spilkerfuneralhome.com

Jim O'Donnell

May 8, 1929 - June 13, 2017