James Michael O'Donnell Jr.

James Michael O’Donnell, Jr. of Punta Gorda, FL and Roseland NJ, passed away on Wednesday, Jan 29, 2025 at the age of 86. James (known to friends as Jim) was born in Newark, NJ on March 27, 1938. He was the son of James Michael O’Donnell and Anne Garni O’Donnell of Maplewood and Barnegat, NJ. He married his wife Karen (“Mickey”) O’Donnell in 1960, and they raised their family in Roseland, NJ.

Jim served in the Army National Guard from 1960-1966. He spent his career in industrial plumbing, working as Project Manager with J. Moore & Co overseeing plumbing installations in hospitals and commercial buildings for 24 years. He also ran his own business, O’Donnell & Son Plumbing, with his son Scott prior to his retirement. He was a lifetime member of Plumbers Local #24.

In 2000, Jim and Mickey retired to a waterfront property in Punta Gorda, FL where Jim continued his many hobbies, including his love of boating. Prior to retirement, Jim sailed with the Bristol Sailing Club in Forked River, NJ for over 30 years. In Punta Gorda, Jim and Mickey joined the Burnt Store Isles Boat Club where they met many wonderful friends.

Jim was very artistic and mechanically-inclined. He used these talents to restore sports cars, antique cars, and boats. Among his many projects, Jim restored a 44 foot Ocean Alexander trawler, an antique pickup truck, and a Lotus Europa sports car. He was also a master woodworker and sculpted beautiful artist-quality wood sculptures. He designed and built new wood furniture and restored antique furniture and clocks. He loved gardening, and he designed and created a Japanese garden on his Punta Gorda property, complete with stone pathways and sculptures.

Jim was preceded in death by his father James O’Donnell, his mother Anne O’Donnell, his brother Edward O’Donnell, and his sister-in-law Eileen O’Donnell. He is survived by his wife of 64 years Karen “Mickey” O’Donnell, his son Scott O’Donnell, his daughter Lori O’Donnell Gioffredi (Michael), his grandchildren Chase Gioffredi, Connor Gioffredi, and Bryn Gioffredi, his nephews Brendan O’Donnell (Crista), Patrick O’Donnell, his niece Danielle Resk (Bill,) and his grandnieces and grandnephews Cormac and Bridget O’Donnell, and Nora and Maeve Resk.

There are no services scheduled at this time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donation to Tidewell Hospice House, Port Charlotte, FL.