Dr. Manus James O'Donnell

Dr. O’Donnell was born on the 3rd of May 1929, the first of four children, to parents Hugh and Laura Gartland O’Donnell in Killough Co. Down, Ireland, where he was raised and attended Killough National School (class of ’41), and St. Malachy’s College in Belfast (class of ’45).

In 1951 he achieved first place on his Second Medical Examination and again in 1952 on his Third Medical Examination. In 1954 he again placed first, and won the Musgrave Prize in Pathology, on his Fourth Medical Examination, and ultimately, in 1955, just prior to his graduation, he earned the Sir William O’Connell Gold Medal and Exhibition in his Final Medical Examination. In 1961 he became a Member of the Royal College of Physicians (M.R.C.P. Edinburgh) upon earning his degree in Cardiology.

From 1955-1956 Dr. O’Donnell served his internship at Mater Infirmorum Hospital in Belfast, Ireland, continuing to Royal Victoria Hospital, completing his residency in 1958 and became a Fellow in Cardiology, engaging in experimentation with Lillehe DeWall pump oxygenator prior to entering the realm of open-heart surgery in 1960. He served the following five years at Royal Victoria Hospital as the Principal Registrar (Resident) in Medicine.

In 1965, he and his family came to the United States upon his accepting a Fellowship in Cardiology at Baylor College of Medicine here in Houston. A year later he was appointed to the Active Staff of The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. In 1975 he then became Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories and in 1982 he served as Senior Attending Cardiologist. Both were appointments he held at The Methodist Hospital in Houston.

A world traveler and avid golfer, he took his game abroad to Indonesia, Ireland and the rest of the British Isles. Dr. O’Donnell was a well-respected cardiologist who loved his patients, and whose patients loved him. He will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved him.

Dr. O’Donnell is preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Anne Park. He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Patricia; his daughter, Fiona Claire O’Donnell; sisters, Mary O’Donnell and Margaret Moloney; nephews, David Park, Manus Moloney and his wife Martina, and Justin Moloney and his wife Kathryn; and his niece Dervila Burke-Kennedy and her husband Neil.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock this afternoon until seven o’clock this evening, Thursday, the 25th of March, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston, where a recitation of the Holy Rosary is to commence at half-past six o’clock, led by Deacon Jack Alexander of St. Michael Catholic Church.

A memorial service celebrating Dr. O’Donnell’s life is to be conducted at noon on Friday, the 26th of March, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, where the Rev. Msgr. Frank H. Rossi, S.T.L., also of St. Michael Catholic Church, is to officiate.

Immediately following the service, all are invited to join the family for a reception in the adjacent Grand Foyer.

Dr. O’Donnell will be escorted back to his home in Ireland by his wife and daughter, where a memorial service and inurnment is to take place at a later date.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in the name of Dr. Manus James O’Donnell be directed to the charity of one’s choice.