David Edward O'Dowd

Dave was born January 22, 1959, in St Elizabeth's hospital in Elizabeth, NJ. He was the third of eight children born to Eva Krisanits O'Dowd Milko and Jeremiah O'Dowd. Dave graduated Thomas Jefferson High School in Elizabeth as Salutatorian in the class of 1977. His academic career continued at George Washington University in Washington DC before transferring to and graduating from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ with a degree in accounting. He worked for many years as an accountant for Ralph Lauren.

Dave had a life long passion and talent for music. He had the ability to play just about any instrument from french horn to trumpet to piano to guitar. He spent many years as a member of the Polish Falcons in Elizabeth. He was a lifelong fan of the Beatles but had an appreciation for all types of musical expression including the works of Michael Jackson, Madonna, Weird Al, and Tchaikovsky. He was also an avid sports fan - being a supporter of the NY Giants and the NY Yankees.

Dave suffered an aneurysm in 1993 which left him blind and disabled. He spent the last thirty years living and thriving in assisted living communities - most recently with Bancroft Neuro Health in Cranbury, NJ.

Dave is survived by his two sons - Andrew John O'Dowd and Johnathon O'Dowd .

Dave is also survived by his brother Andy O'Dowd and wife Rachel of Sandy, Utah; his brother Ray O'Dowd and wife Loraine of Hackettstown, NJ: his sister Susan O'Donnell of Leland, NC; his brother Thomas O'Dowd of Manchester, NJ; his brother Vincent O'Dowd and wife Dawn of Franklinton, NC; and his brother Michael O'Dowd and wife Angie of East Greenville, PA. He also also survived by eleven nephews and three nieces.

Dave is predeceased by his parents Jeremiah O'Dowd and Eva Krisanits O'Dowd Milko, his stepfather George Milko and his sister Julia O'Dowd.

Dave's family would like to thank Bancroft Neuro Health in Cranbury, NJ for the many years of care for our brother.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury Fund through the Brain Injury Alliance website at www.bianj.org/donate

A visitation for David will be held Sunday, October 20, 2024 from 3 PM to 7 PM at KROWICKI MCCRACKEN FUNERAL HOME, 2124 East Saint Georges Ave, Linden, NJ 07036. Friends and family are invited to gather at the funeral home the following morning at 9:30 AM. A funeral will follow Monday, October 21, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Graceland Memorial Park, 1900 Galloping Hill Rd, Kenilworth, NJ 07033.