John C “Jack” O’Donnell (1935-2018)
We were saddened to learn of Jack (John C) O’Donnell’s death in the palliative care unit of St. Martha’s Hospital, Antigonish, October 25.
Jack was a world-renowned figure in choral music, who conducted the world famous coal miners chorus, The Men of the Deeps for fifty years. We were delighted to have worked with him on his book, The Men of the Deeps: A Journey With North America’s Only Coal Miners Chorus (CBU Press 2016).
His career was not confined to the Men of the Deeps, though he was thoroughly committed to them, travelling weekly, often more than once, between his home in Antigonish and the choir’s rehearsals in Glace Bay. Jack was also a sought-after choral music arranger, and of course a valued member of faculty at St. Francis Xavier University for more than forty years.
Jack was a member of the Order of Canada, received the East Coast Music Association’s (ECMA) Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award, the Katharine McLennan Award (Beaton Institute and the Louisbourg Institute) and honorary degrees from St. FX and Cape Breton University.
He had a keen memory and was a pleasure to work with. Our condolences to Judy and their family.
