Edward J. 'Eddie' O'Donnell

Edward J. "Eddie" O'Donnell of Matamoras, Pa., died on May 31, 2017. He was 76.
A lifelong resident of the area, he was born on Nov. 8, 1940 in Port Jervis, N.Y., to the late Edward Francis and Elizabeth Frances (Earley) O'Donnell. He graduated from Delaware Valley High School in 1958 and then enlisted in the Navy, serving until 1961. After his military service, he graduated from Ball State University, with a B.S. in Education in 1965.  
After college, he worked as a teacher in the Pine Bush, N.Y., and Delaware Valley school districts and as a New York State Trooper, and then worked for over 20 years as the Head Recreation Therapist at the Mid-Hudson Psychiatric Center in New Hampton, N.Y., until his retirement in 1995. 
He married to Karen Smith Chromy in 1966, and then to Linda Scifres in 1974. Both survive.  
He was very active, playing in the inaugural season of the Port Jervis Little League, as well as being a letterman in high school in baseball, basketball and soccer and a varsity soccer player at Ball State. H was a regular participant in multiple adult leagues at Port Jervis Bowl, and a frequent age group winner in local 5K and 10K races. He also loved the outdoors and was a lifelong member of the Stonedock Hunting Club. 
He belonged to a number of local community organizations, including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Elks Lodge, and Knights of Columbus, and performed in dozens of plays with Presby Players, helping design and construct sets for many more. He was also an avid reader, particularly of books on American history, and was well-known for his extensive collection of maps. 
In retirement he focused on his family. His favorite attire was his U.S.S. Essex cap, and had an extensive collection of caps and shirts chronicling the sports participation of his grandchildren, nieces and nephews. 
Eddie/Ed/Papa was known as being loyal, loving, nurturing, supportive, and generous to his friends and family and welcoming to strangers, and spent many summers vacationing at the Jersey Shore. He was also precise, organized, analytic, insightful, privately sentimental, and as resistant to technology as he was proud of his Irish heritage. All who truly knew him loved him and took pleasure in his idiosyncrasies.  
In addition to his wife, Linda, he is survived by his son, Stephen O'Donnell Sr. (Sue Jean) of Cody, Wy., and stepchildren Will Getter (Erika Malzberg) of San Francisco, Calif., and Liz Savadove (Derrick Williamson) of Frisco, Texas; grandchildren, Stephen Jr., Ryan, Stephanie, Noah, Hunter, Elyse, Quinn and Teagan; sisters, Denise Brockett, Kathleen Gross, and Patricia Koch (Ray); and brother, Daniel O'Donnell; nieces Terri Tyoe, Randi Short (Michael), Heidi O'Donnell, and their children (McLane Tyoe and Michael, Mary Kate and Corry Short).
He was predeceased by his beloved daughter, Debbie, and grandson, Nathan, as well as his brothers-in-law George Brockett and Richard Gross.  Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 9, at the First Presbyterian Church of Port Jervis at 60 Sussex St.. Visiting hours will begin at 9:30 a.m. and a memorial service at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Ann Akers officiating. Interment is immediately after the memorial service at St. Mary's Cemetery in Port Jervis, with a repast to follow at the First Presbyterian Church. 
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Port Jervis, 60 Sussex St., Port Jervis, NY 12771; or the Matamoras Veterans Park and Education Center, P.O. Box 303, Matamoras, PA 18336.
Arrangements are by Gray-Parker Funeral Home, Port Jervis.