Birth date: Feb 10, 1955 Death date: Nov 1, 2025
Joseph F O’Donnell passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, November 1, 2025. Born in Philadelphia to the late Joseph and Elizabeth O’Donnell, Joe was a beloved husband, father, brother, teacher, and friend. A lifelong resident of t Read Obituary
Mr. O’Donell was a gracious and loving basketball coach. He will always be a part of my memories and the stories that I tell about my childhood.
I know there are no words that can ease the pain of losing your dear Joe, but please know that you and your family are in my thoughts. From all the beautiful tributes, it’s clear that he was a beloved husband, father, brother, and teacher who touched many lives. Lynn Carson
25 years later, and I still say he was by far, the best teacher I have had the privilege of having. His dry sense of humor, way to make you feel responsible, like a disappointed dad, the way he explained and described things. What a great loss, my deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all of his former students, like myself, who thank him for all he was.
I’m so sorry to hear this news. Mr. O’Donnell was my absolute favorite teacher at West. I graduated almost 30 years ago, and still hold such a dear spot in my heart for him. He truly made a lasting impact .
Mr. O was my English teacher at West- he was an amazing educator and always made classroom discussions engaging. My love of literature started in his classroom. I always think of him when I add books to my shelf because he told us “One of the first things I notice in a home is the book collection”. My condolences to his family and friends-may all the best parts of him continue to live on through them.
Mr. O’Donnell was one of the most impactful teachers I had at Cherry Hill West and though he was stern in the classroom, he truly cared about his students and nurtured their talents.
A few of my most cherished memories that have imprinted on me:
- joking about my classmates (Keely, Merav, Aubrey) and I using the wrong refrigerator brand during our Death of a Salesman final scene because it was the only fault he could find.
- delicately but intensely discussing race and ancestry — joking about the presence of a naked woman — when teaching Beloved.
— truly stressful vocabulary exams and darn near impossible literature quizzes.
His support and feedback is one of the reasons I chose to become an English major. My heart is with his grieving family today.
Sorry to lose you so soon, Joe. Just yesterday we were all kids! Your memory will echo in the halls of your school, in the minds of your students and in the hearts of your family .
With love, Aunt Nancy’s kids
Mr. O was my English teacher at Cherry Hill West. Years later, we became colleagues in the English Department. He was dedicated to encouraging his students to read closely and conduct themselves in deep conversations about literature. I learned a great deal from him in regard to teaching. He also loved his family and was so proud of his sons. Our conversations in the F lounge were wonderful. He is and will always be a member of the Cherry Hill West English Department pantheon. RIP Joe
