APPRECIATION: Joe O’Donnell, one of the most successful business and real estate magnates in Mass. history, always cherished his roots

He did so much, for so many, for so long: Everett native raised $500M-plus for cystic fibrosis, donated generously to Harvard, Malden Catholic & hometown

By Steve Freker

It is said in ancient Greek history that Diogenes wandered the streets of Athens, circa 370 BC or so, in broad daylight with a lighted lantern, “searching for an honest man.” The philosopher was not successful in his lifelong crusade, it is recounted.

Could the same be said for the following quest? Over the expanse of the past five decades-plus, find us someone, particularly in the Everett-Malden region – and far beyond, who has not benefited from the seemingly limitless largesse of Joe O’Donnell. A bit of an exaggeration, perhaps, but really not far removed from the truth.

What is also true is that every day O’Donnell spent on this earth, literally thousands and thousands of other people were living lives that were enhanced by his philanthropy, business acumen or “straight-talk” advice.

Joe O’Donnell passed away too soon the other day, at the age of 79. Hope against hope that some gifted author will chronicle the amazing story of this man’s life, a guy who relished his roots as a “kid from Everett,” where he grew up in the 1950s.

“Everett was a tough neighborhood in a tough city,” O’Donnell told the Harvard Gazette in a 2018 interview. “There were a lot of good people there, and if you acted like a jerk, someone for sure would kick your ass. It was a great educational experience. It made me tough.”

He went to local schools until his high school years, when he earned a scholarship to Malden Catholic High School. His brother Dennis, for whom an adjacent baseball field is named, also attended the school, with both brothers having memorable athletic careers.

The true fairy tale of the “kid from Everett” continued when he went on to attend Harvard. O’Donnell excelled as a student and an athlete at Harvard. He was a terrific player on both the football and baseball teams. He earned six varsity letters, and in his senior year he captained the baseball team. To show his gratitude to the baseball program, in 1995 he donated $2.5 million to endow the baseball coach’s position. Harvard’s baseball field bears O’Donnell’s name. In 2012, O’Donnell and his wife donated $30 million to the University.

“It’s payback,” O’Donnell said in the Gazette interview. “I got a scholarship because someone was smart and thoughtful enough to provide for a guy like me. I wasn’t a dumbbell, but I wasn’t the traditional blueblood. I got a break to go to Harvard. I want others to have a break. I do it because of a selfish reason: It feels good to make a difference.”

O’Donnell was also the most renowned and prolific donor in Malden Catholic High School history. For decades, perhaps the school’s most well-known alumnus has provided tens of millions of dollars of targeted donations to make sure what adds up to hundreds of families and thousands of students thrive at the tuition-based parochial school.

A founder and former owner of the Boston Culinary Group, whose major focus for decades was on concessions for just about every major venue in New England – including TD/Boston Garden and Fenway Park – when asked about his monster financial success, the consistent Top 50 Wealthiest Mass. residents list businessman would respond, “I sold a lot of popcorn and candy!”

In his hometown of Everett, it is said that O’Donnell was a regular benefactor of Everett High sports programs as well, particularly when it came time to pay for the splendid championship rings worn by the players from blue-collar worker homes or recent immigrants through the wild success enjoyed by the 13-Super Bowl champ Crimson Tide football teams.

O’Donnell’s crowning achievement in his philanthropic efforts was the formation of The Joey Fund, which he established following the death from cystic fibrosis of his only son, Joey, in 1986. To date, The Joey Fund has raised over $500 million to support cystic fibrosis research for the past 38 years. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation leaders say the funds raised for research through the O’Donnells and The Joey Fund have fueled substantial progress in revolutionizing treatment of the affliction and working toward a cure.

A close friend of former U.S. President George W. Bush, a former classmate with whom he shared a love of baseball, O’Donnell was Bush’s top fundraiser in the Eastern United States through two campaigns. He was an unofficial advisor to him and other Presidents as well as numerous governors, mayors and business giants.

O’Donnell worked out front and also behind-the-scenes, adeptly and successfully in all parts of his life, business and philanthropy. He was a tried-and-true manifestation of the well-known phrase: “He never forgot where he came from.”

There is no doubt that there are lines of people up above, those Joe helped through the years, waiting to greet and thank him once again. R.I.P. to one of Everett’s finest, no doubt the way he wished to be remembered.