James Matthew O'Donnell

James Matthew O'Donnell of Irish and German descent was born to Matthew and Virginia (Blywise) O'Donnell (who married on November 25, 1920) in St. Joseph's Hospital on August 4, 1934, in San Francisco, California. James (Jim) passed away on December 7, 2024, from complications due to progressed lymphoma, at an assisted living home in San Mateo where he resided since August 2020.
As a young child, Jim lived with his parents and his sister, Patricia (Herman), until their father tragically passed away on November 13, 1942. Jim attended St Joseph's military boarding school through 8th grade in Belmont, California, and then went on to graduate from Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo, California. Following high school, at 18 years old, he worked for the US Postal service and around the same time a volunteer firefighter due to encouragement from Miller Eustace Thomas, then Battalion Fire Chief of San Carlos who lived down the street on Montgomery Street and became a father figure to Jim. Jim became a volunteer fireman for the City of San Carlos and eventually a full-time fireman and Battalion Chief for San Carlos and Belmont, South County Fire Department, for which he retired after 40 years of service. Also, Jim was founder of the non-profit training and educational corporation, The Industrial Emergency Council, established in July 1978. He held the position of Executive Director with IEC, until 2013 and then semi retired.
On June 11, 1966, he married Catherine-Mary Verna Apathy, a resident of San Jose, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in San Jose. They spent their marriage of 49 years in San Carlos, California until her untimely death in 2016. He is survived by his children, Sabrina (son-in-law Rajesh) and Sean (daughter-in-law Jenny), and grandchildren Olivia, Brooke, Scarlett, Joseph and Emily.
A memorial Mass is scheduled to honor him on January 24, 2025, at 11a.m. at St. Charles Catholic Church at 880 Tamarack Avenue, San Carlos. A reception will follow at the Church Hall.
Please click on the following link which will take you to the St. Charles Church website and then click on the "Livestream" link at the top right for a livestream of the memorial Mass at 11am on Friday, January 24th: https://www.stcharlesparish.org/
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He has been cremated, and his interment will happen later at the family's discretion. His grave site is located at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in San Jose.
Please consider donations to the following in lieu of flowers:
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­https://lafd.org/news/wildfire-donations-your-generosity-inspiring
https://www.calfund.org/funds/wildfire-recovery-fund/
https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/?srsltid=AfmBOopnrth00baUEdhjyo1dSmxJUqBmxFemg-gTaCTUdmcKxG7d-VCH
https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/ways-to-give/
https://www.worldanimalprotection.us/latest/blogs/california-wildfire-emergency-animal-shelters-and-rescues/
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