Christopher O'Donnell

Christopher Ryan O'Donnell, 31, died on January 11, 2025 at his home in Gilbert, Arizona. Born on June 18, 1993, in Norfolk, Virginia, Chris was a vibrant and adventurous spirit who had battled with depression since the age of 15. Despite these struggles, he never stopped searching for a life well lived, filling his years with love, adventure, and a deep desire to help others. He was passionate about nature and exploring the outdoors. He was a baseball player, skier, bodybuilder, photographer/videographer, artist, marathon runner (once), guitar player, sky diver, hiker, mountain climber, fisherman, off-roader and, most recently, an avid bull rider.

Chris was a 2011 graduate of Maury High School and attended Radford University. He held jobs as a construction worker, bartender, commercial fisherman in Alaska, heavy equipment salesman. In recent years he became a well-known social media presence who focused on physical fitness, outdoor activity and helping others deal with depression and substance abuse by telling his own story. Most of all, Chris was known for his confidence, kindness, charm, and unwavering loyalty to his friends and family. He cherished the relationships he built, both in Virginia and Arizona, and continually sought to deepen those connections.

Chris is survived by his loving family - his parents Mary and Patrick O'Donnell, his older brother Connor and his wife Carly of Washington, DC, his younger sister Meghan and her partner Tyson of San Diego and his beloved dogs Blue and Riley. He will be missed by many aunts, uncles and cousins and so many dear friends from Norfolk to Arizona, as well as those who knew him on social media.

A funeral service celebrating Chris's life will be held on March 1, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Larchmont United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to The Sarah Michelle Peterson Foundation to honor Chris's legacy of advocacy for mental health.

To view the recording of the service, please visit: https://youtube.com/live/s8fx3d29X2M.
Please skip ahead to the 18 minute mark for beginning of the service.