Mary Dolan O'Donnell

Mary Dolan O’Donnell, a retired Metro New York news executive known for her fierce editorial standards and fun-loving hospitality, died in Hillsborough, NC on September 10, 2025, after a long illness. She was 70.

In keeping with a life happiest among friends and family, Mary spent her final days joyfully surrounded by her sons, daughter-in-law, grandsons, and members of her enormous extended family, first at UNC Hospital Chapel Hill and later at hospice.

Mary was the second of nine children of Judy and Mario Dolan — a nurse and physician. She arrived shortly after they returned to Lindy’s Lake in West Milford, NJ, following a stint in her father's hometown of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The family later settled in Irvington, NY, where Mary and her siblings shared a lively upbringing.

At age 17, Mary attended Kirkland College, the all-women's sister school, to Hamilton College. Although she left after a year, she formed lifelong friendships there — including with her future husband, William G. O’Donnell Jr. Like others during the social upheaval of the Vietnam War era, Mary set out to explore, collecting vivid experiences: cleaning fish in an ice-encrusted Provincetown cannery, waiting tables at a posh London hotel, and driving a $75 used convertible from New York to work at the newly developed Hilton Head Island resort. She eventually returned north to complete her education, graduating Phi Beta Kappa from New York University with a degree in Journalism and earning a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.

She and Bill reconnected, too, and after he finished law school, they moved to Florida, where Mary launched her reporting career at The St. Petersburg Times. They lived in St. Pete Beach, often playing host to snowbird relatives, including Mary’s beloved Uncle Jack and Aunt Peg. They returned to New York and married in 1986, when Mary began a decades-long career with USA TODAY at The Journal News.

Rising through the ranks, Mary created and guided balanced, accurate, and thoughtful reporting and high-impact investigative work. During the challenges of the pandemic, she directed operations across three separate metro area newsrooms simultaneously. Known for her empathy and steadiness in a business full of strong personalities, she hired and mentored scores of journalists, leaving an indelible mark on the industry.

Though Mary and Bill were committed to their work, their greatest joy came from raising their sons, Brendan and Tim, in Croton-on-Hudson, NY. They were deeply engaged members of the community and parishioners of the Church of the Holy Name of Mary. Their home became a multi-generational hub for the sprawling Dolan, Mahon, O’Donnell, and Ranagan families, where Mary’s hospitality — and delicious holiday dinner rolls — were legendary.

Every June, they loaded up the family van for the all-day drive to North Carolina's Outer Banks to kick off summer. Mary and Bill celebrated 35 years of marriage a few months before his death from cancer at age 67. She moved to Chapel Hill, for a retirement closer to their favorite beach destination and focused on her love of cooking, reading, and travel. A valued Red Cross volunteer and avid golfer, she quickly made friends through the Occoneechee Golf Club women’s league and the UNC Newman Catholic Center in Chapel Hill, where she enjoyed attending Mass and taking part in the parish community.

In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her parents, and her sister Martha. She is survived by her sons Brendan (Amy) of New Bern, NC, and Tim of Brooklyn; her grandsons James, Edward, and Ryan; sisters Julia (Edward) of Shelter Island, NY, and Annie Cundari (Dave Giammatteo) of Westminster, MA; brothers John (Ann Mond) of Washington, DC, Martin of Dobbs Ferry, NY, Ed of New York City, Mario (Pauline) of Sleepy Hollow, NY, and Robert of Aarhus, Denmark; and beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A private funeral will be held at UNC's Newman Center, with a celebration of her life to follow in New York next spring.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the DRESS Syndrome Foundation.