William “Bill” O’Donnell, 38, of Monmouth Beach, died suddenly at home on Thursday, January 14. Bill was born in Bayonne. He attended Our Lady of the Assumption School in Bayonne followed by Saint Peters Preparatory High School in Jersey City and Syracuse University in Syracuse, N.Y. He was a proud offensive lineman for the Saint Peter’s Prep State Championship Football Team of 1994 and was a recipient of the High School Heisman Award prior to being recruited by Syracuse University.
After four successful seasons at Saint Peters Prep Bill was recruited by and attended Syracuse University as a member of the Syracuse University football team. As a starting Offensive Lineman, he had the honor of playing in five NCAA bowl games, including the Orange and Fiesta Bowls. He proudly played with many team members who have remained his closest friends. He had always said his time playing for Syracuse was the best time of his life and his teammates where his brothers forever.
Bill worked as a Business Analyst for Health and Hospitals Corporation of New York City. He firmly believed in supporting the mission of providing care for all New Yorkers. Bill’s passion for family, friends and football was contagious and he will be deeply missed.
Bill was predeceased by grandparents. Catherine and William Raftery of Bayonne; his aunt, Kathleen Greene; and his cousin, Lt. Col. Michael J Greene. He is survived by his mother, Eileen Raftery O’Donnell of Monmouth Beach; a brother, Thomas O’Donnell and his wife, Christine O’Donnell, and their daughter, Hailey O’Donnell, of Middletown; his uncle and godfather, Lt. Col Edward Greene (retired); his beloved cousin, Barbra Greene Davis, and her children, Joseph and Devlin, and Lt. Col. Michael J Greene’s wife, Kate, and their sons, Liam and Owen Greene. He is also survived by many cherished family members and friends including the Roditises of Middletown, the Sheridans of Lincroft, the Thermanns and Mulays of Spring Lake Heights, the Simpsons of Chandler Arizona, his great-aunt Grace Kosch and the Cassella and Pisano families of Long Island, N.Y. He will also be deeply missed by his Saint Peter’s Prep and Syracuse University teammates and friends.
A Memorial Gathering was held on Monday, January 18 and on Tuesday, January 19 at the Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank. A Memorial Service took place on Tuesday, January 19 at Thompson Memorial Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Stephens County Children’s Center which touched Bill so deeply. Youth Services for Stephens County, Inc. PO Box 1603, Duncan, OK 73534 – Attention Youth Shelter.
