JAMES O'DONNELL

O'DONNELL James F. O'Donnell, Ph.D. Died peacefully in his home at Ingleside at King Farm, Rockville, MD on September 7, 2021. He was the beloved husband of the late Winifred Locke O'Donnell; loving father of Anne Vinson (Fred), Patrick J.S. O'Donnell (Tom DiGiovanni), Mary Elizabeth O'Donnell Murphy (Robert); and cherished Poppa of grandchildren Caitlin Vinson (Carlos), Michael Vinson, and great-granddaughter, Annabella Rose. Dr. O'Donnell is survived by two brothers, George T. and Richard J. He was predeceased by his parents, John M. and Mary Louise O'Donnell, sister, Margaret A. O'Donnell (Kevin), and brothers, John R. (Diane), Robert E. (Betty), and Thomas M. (Nancy). Dr. O'Donnell received a Bachelor of Science degree from St. Louis University in three years and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Biochemistry from the University of Chicago. A veteran of the U.S Army, he served our country during the Korean War. Following his service, he accepted an appointment at the University of Cincinnati, where he carried out research on liver disease for ten years. After this engagement, he was recruited by the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda. There, he served as the Deputy Director of the Division of Research Resources, and later as Director of Extramural Affairs, until he retired in 1999. Dr. O'Donnell was selected as a charter member of the Senior Executive Service of the United States of America on July 13, 1979 by President Jimmy Carter. In tribute to family members impacted by Alzheimer's, Dr. O'Donnell volunteered to participate in a decades-long study on the disease, conducted by Johns Hopkins, and ultimately donated his brain to the research. His generous gift to science will remain a legacy, in addition to the loving family and friends he leaves behind. Dr. O'Donnell was actively engaged in and committed to St. Raphael Catholic Church since its inception. Friends may call at the church, 1513 Dunster Road, Rockville, MD, 20854, on September 15 at 10 a.m. The viewing will precede the Mass of Christian Burial, which will be offered at St. Raphael at 11 a.m., and available via livestream [youtube.com]. The interment will follow at All Souls Cemetery, 11401 Brink Road, Germantown, MD 20876. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Raphael School, 1513 Dunster Road, Rockville, MD 20854; the Carmel of Port Tobacco, 5678 Mount Carmel Rd., La Plata, MD, 20646-3625; or to the John M. and Mary L. O'Donnell Scholarship Fund of St. Ignatius High School, 1911 W 30th Street, Cleveland, OH 44113-3495.Dr. O'Donnell was actively engaged in and committed to St. Raphael Catholic Church since its inception. Friends may call at the church, 1513 Dunster Road, Rockville, MD, 20854, on September 15 at 10 a.m. The viewing will precede the Mass of Christian Burial, which will be offered at St. Raphael at 11 a.m., and available via https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsRe4eX6G9cgnr7pVRNorGw. The interment will follow at All Souls Cemetery, 11401 Brink Road, Germantown, MD 20876. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Raphael School, 1513 Dunster Road, Rockville, MD 20854; the Carmel of Port Tobacco, 5678 Mount Carmel Rd., La Plata, MD, 20646-3625; or to the John M. and Mary L. O'Donnell Scholarship Fund of St. Ignatius High School, 1911 W 30th Street, Cleveland, OH 44113-3495.