[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 7 (Friday, January 27, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      REMEMBERING JOSEPH O'DONNELL

 Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, it is with great sadness that today 
I reflect upon the life of Joseph O'Donnell. Mr. O'Donnell dedicated 
his life to his family and to public service. He served alongside my 
father as Lieutenant Governor in the 1960s, and is, in fact, the last 
Republican elected to the position. He remained active in politics 
until his passing. In addition to his tenure as Lieutenant Governor, 
Joe O'Donnell has served his community and the State of Rhode Island 
for over 55 years, including as State Director of Administration, as 
Chairman of the North Smithfield Water Authority, and in a number of 
other capacities. In addition, Mr. O'Donnell served the business 
community as a founding partner and chairman of the board of Keough 
Kirby Associates, Inc., as a trustee of Landmark Health Systems, and in 
other board positions for numerous business and civic organizations. As 
a panelist on the `Coffee-An' radio program in his later years, Joe 
O'Donnell contributed his knowledge of politics, his great sense of 
humor, and his penchant for gourmet cooking to a larger audience. His 
name is on the Wall of Honor at the Marine Maritime Academy for 
outstanding lifetime achievement, and he was a recipient of the Admiral 
Joel R.P. Pringle Society Award from the Naval War College Foundation 
in Newport. It is with heavy hearts that Stephanie and I send our 
deepest sympathies to Mrs. Yolande O'Donnell and their six children. Of 
all his accomplishments, I know he is most proud of the closeness of 
his family.

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