Thomas O’Donnell

Thomas (Tom) O'Donnell, 79, of Norwood, MA passed away peacefully at home on February 26, 2026.

Born on May 3, 1946 in Brookline to James and Frances (Doherty) O'Donnell, he was the youngest of a large family with four older sisters - Mary DeFilippo, Frances MacDonald, Letitia Kelley, Lillian Carey and a brother, James (Jerry), all of whom predeceased him.

The first of his family to attend college, he received his degree from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in 1968 and was immediately drafted into the United States Army. He served for two years in Alaska as a pharmacist.

Tom began his career as a pharmacist in Weston but spent most of his 30 + years in pharmacy in Dedham. His proudest professional accomplishment was owning and operating his own pharmacy, Endicott Pharmacy in Dedham, MA. A people person, he was most proud of the relationships that he built up with his customers and coworkers over the years.
He was saddened when his mom and pop store was bought out by CVS. However he remained in Dedham, later working at BJ's Pharmacy and Star Osco Pharmacy - and was always delighted when he encountered a former customer.

Tom was immensely proud of the life that he built with his wife, Ruth (Browning) O'Donnell. Married for forty four years, they had two daughters - Tara Abraham (husband, Quentin) of Norwood and Hailey Conneely (late husband, Paul) of Salem, MA. Spending time with his family brought him his greatest joy. He worked hard to provide for his family, teaching them the same work ethic that he lived by. When he was able to take time off and later in retirement, he most enjoyed spending time in Sarasota, Florida.

Most recently, his granddaughters Olivia and Violet brought light to his life. They both adored their Pop Pop, as he did them, and were a big part of his daily life. Olivia and Violet enjoyed simply spending time with him and watching him fish. Their time together was a gift for each of them.

A friend to all, Tom was generous with his time and always managed to make people feel comfortable and special. He usually managed to bump into someone he knew wherever he went! He was quick to share whatever he had with others and was always ready with a joke or a story to tell!

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date for family and friends, and those who wish to remember Tom. To share a memory or to learn more about the Celebration of Life, please reach out via email: [email protected].