John Sande O'Dowd

Born to Ellen M. Sande and John B O’Dowd on May 14,1937, John was a true Tucson native, his life and legacy deeply interwoven with the community he loved and served. John was the oldest of four. His early life was heavily influenced by the war as he followed his father’s Air Force postings throughout the west living in Colorado, California, New Mexico and Nebraska. After the war the family settled on 4th street in the Sam Hughes Neighborhood, where he seemingly never left.

A graduate of Tucson High School, Yale University and the University of Arizona College of Law, John was on active duty with the Air Force in Bitburg, Germany when he met his life partner of 58 years Claire M. Farley of Salem, Massachusetts and convinced her to move “home”. After his active service John continued as a reservist in the Judge Advocate General’s Office, acting as a quasi-liaison between Davis Monthan Air Force Base and the City of Tucson, retiring after 28 years of service as a Lt. Colonel.

As an attorney John split his time between public service and private practice, working first as a chief prosecutor for the City of Tucson and then heading up the first branch of the State Attorney General’s Office in Tucson. In private practice he practiced what he lovingly called “street law”, “taking anything that walked in off of the street”. He passionately advocated for his clients regardless of the resources that they possessed. Although John sat on a multitude of boards and committees throughout his career, his two main passions were the Sam Hughes Neighborhood Association and Tucson High. An avid hiker, he loved to spend time in the Rincon Mountains reminiscing about summers working for the Forest Service during school breaks.

He is survived by his wife Claire, his 4 children, Debbie, John F, Hanna and Deirdre, 15 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and his 3 siblings, Erik, Mina and Charlie. He was predeceased by his first-born daughter Deborah Marie.

A Service will be held on Friday March 22, 2024, at 10:30 am at East Lawn Palms, 5801 E Grant Road. A celebration of life will immediately follow at the fellowship hall of Christ Church United Methodist, 655 N Craycroft Rd.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you send a donation to the Tucson High Badger Foundation, PO Box 5424 Tucson, Arizona 85703