Lynn to honor former city councilor

LYNN – Former city councilor John “Jack” O’Donnell served the city he loved for 17 years, giving everything he had to the council and never missing a meeting.Just more than a year after his death the city is giving thanks to O’Donnell, who was 69 when he died, and giving back to his family with the dedication of Jack O’Donnell Square Saturday.Under the direction of Veteran’s Services Director Michael Sweeney and with the approval of the Lynn City Council, the city will dedicate and rename the corners of Blakeley and Holyoke streets “Jack O’Donnell Square” in honor of the late councilor.Although O’Donnell was a Navy veteran, the square will not be a veteran’s memorial like many others in Lynn, because O’Donnell was not killed in battle.”This is a city square named in honor of Jack, not a Veterans Square,” said Sweeney. “That is no reflection on him, but people get confused since every town does it differently. Here in Lynn, Veteran Squares are only for those killed on active duty.”Born in Lynn, a graduate of St. Mary’s High School, O’Donnell lived in the city most of his life serving as a councilor and also running his local moving business, O’Donnell Movers Inc., along with his brother, Robert.A veteran of the Lebanon Conflict, O’Donnell served in the Navy from 1955-58 and later served as secretary and treasurer of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He was also a member of several local organizations including the Knights of Columbus, Lynn Lions Club, Franco-American Veterans, The Sons of Italy, Elks Club and Moose Lodge and was a supporter of the local Challenger Little LeagueO’Donnell was first elected to the council in 1975 as an at-large councilor, but lost a bid for re-election two years later. In 1981, voters returned him to the council but he was again defeated in 1983. Later that year he was appointed to fill the vacancy left when Charles Gaeta resigned to take over as executive director of the Lynn Housing Authority.Once he was appointed back to the council, the fiscally conservative O’Donnell was re-elected every two years until he retired in 1996 with a reputation for keeping a close eye on the city’s wallet.Some of his accomplishments on the council included privatizing trash removal, which saved the city millions of dollars, and helping to establish the city’s “John Law.”Sweeney said plans to dedicate the square to O’Donnell were actually under way before his death, but his illness made him too weak to attend the ceremony, so his family decided to hold off.The ceremony, hosted by the City Council, will begin Saturday at 11 a.m. David J. Solimine will emcee the event and Lynn Police Sgt. Edward Shinnick will provide bagpipe music.