Hugh Joseph O'Donnell

I remember being glued to the radio as a kid following Hugh's performance at the American Legion World Series. I knew him in high school, and we played basketball together for many years thereafter, and I always admired his skills, intelligence, kindness, candor and independent spirit.

Hugh was a friend from the time I first met him at Jesuit High School until near to his death. I saw him often at Mass at the Cathedral parish. Hugh bore a difficult difficult illness with quiet dignity. I visited him in Chicago in 1968 where he worked the South side as a social worker and advocate for children. One could tell he cared. Sunday Mass will not be quite the same for me and I will miss the chance to say hello and exchange memories. Rest in Peace.

Hugh was a good man with principles. His presence as a champion of the unborn will be sorely missed. May God bless him.

My condolences to Hugh's family and friends. I know him primarily because of his amazing similarity in countenance to his aunt and my dear friend, Margaret O'Donnell [Sister Patrick Mary, SNJM].
Indirectly, I knew of him because of my friend's profound loyalty extending to her brother and his family.
Now that the road has risen up to meet them, may they welcome us to the other side.

Like many who were parishioners at St. Andrew or Holy Redeemer, we knew of Hugh not by name but by devotion. He would stand out because he was immersed in prayer and knelt before receiving the Eucharist at Communion. He graced both of these communities by his steadfast piety. His was a quiet presence but both churches will be a bit less holy without his adoration.

Hugh was a year older than me at Jesuit and I always looked up to him as he was friendly towards me and I
remember him being a very good Baseball Pitcher.

I attended and graduated Jesuit High and Gonzaga U with Hugh. He was always nicer to me than I thought I "deserved". We started our college careers in the freshmen dorm, DeSmet, fourth floor.

I remember playing fast-pitch softball against him in GU's intramural league one spring. I hated fast-pitch. It seemed he would always slow his pitches down for me so I could pop-up without getting hurt.

When I learned of Hugh's death, the face that flashed through my mind is exactly the one used for his guest book. He and I were classmates at Gonzaga. I remember him as a very handsome, athletic, and engaging young man. We lost contact after graduation, but I feel a kindred spirit in learning of his commitment to the pro-life movement. Mental illness sufferers have a very heavy cross to bear, but that fact that Our Lord called him home during Holy Week speaks volumes of how closely Hugh...

I also knew of him from Cathedral and the LovejoySurgicenter. For some reason, I was drawn to his picture in the paper and when I read it, I realized who it was. You honored him so much by telling his story. He is at peace now.