Story Added:June 2008

John Vincent (Jack) O’Dea (1918-20)

Jack O’Dea was born on 15th September 2005 at Kangaroo Point, Brisbane. He was the eldest of six brothers and one sister – Vic, Pat, Kevin, Viv, Frank and Alma. All of the six O’Dea brothers attended Nudgee College.

Jack’s father was a policeman. The family lived in various country towns such as, Boonah, Laidley and Cambooya. He started school at the Boonah State School and went on from there to  Nudgee College.

Most of Jack’s working life was spent at McWhirters in Fortitude Valley – later Myers. He was appointed Departmental Manager of soft furnishings. He retired in 1976.

In April 1943 Jack enlisted in the A.I.F. and served in Papua New Guinea in the 154th Australian General Transport Company. He was discharged from the Army in March 1946.

Jack married ‘Connie’ Hanlon in September 1949. They settled in Morningside and were actively engaged in the Parish of St Peter and Paul. Their only son John was born in February 1953. In his later years Jack lived at Marycrest Retirement Centre and spent his final five years in the ‘Lillian Cooper’ Nursing Home.

He was greatly loved and respected by all, a gracious gentleman of strong faith who was always appreciative of those who helped him. He slipped away peacefully on the afternoon of 9th April 2008.His nephew Father Frank O’Dea ( 1957 -60) celebrated his Requiem Mass in the Giovanni Chapel at Marycrest.

At the time of his death Jack O’Dea was Nudgee’s oldest Old Boy.