LAURENCE O'DONNELL

O'DONNELL--Laurence Gerard. (1935-2025), age 90, formerly of Ridgewood, NJ, passed away peacefully on July 18, 2025 after a lengthy illness in Stamford, CT, in the loving care of his family. Born in Brooklyn in 1935, Larry was the son of the late Thomas and Dorothy O'Donnell. He was a devoted husband to his wife, Joan, and he presided -- with humor and a twinkle in his eye -- over a close-knit, joyful family. Larry enjoyed a storied career at the Wall Street Journal, starting as a reporter in 1958 shortly after graduation from the College of the Holy Cross. He served as the Detroit Bureau Chief before becoming the Wall Street Journal Managing Editor from 1977 to 1983, a period of major editorial improvements and expansion. He continued to serve the Journal and its parent company, Dow Jones, in various leadership roles, including President of the Dow Jones Foundation. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Joan; four children: Christopher (Kim), Carrie (David) Gurney, Jeffrey (Antoinette) and Tony (Luisa); 11 grandchildren and two great-grand children. Larry and Joan welcomed 19 foster children into their home, many of whom remain closely connected to the O'Donnell family. A funeral Mass will be held at noon on Friday, July 25, 2025 at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 1200 Shippan Avenue, Stamford, CT. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to: Innercityscholarshipfund.org.