PATRICIA M. O’DONNELL
1949-2026
Patricia O’Donnell, neighborhood activist and Portland public parks advocate, passed away May 23rd, 2026. She was 77.
Pat was a founder of the Friends of Congress Square Park, created to fight the City of Portland’s proposal to sell the iconic pocket park at the corner of High and Congress Street to a private developer. That effort grew into a city-wide referendum that protected all Portland parks and green spaces.
Pat was born at Mercy Hospital January 22nd, 1949, the only child of James and Anna Lynch. She attended local public and Catholic schools. Later she settled on Cumberland Avenue in Parkside, not far from her Alma Mater of Sacred Heart School. She graduated from what is today the University of Southern Maine in 1971.
Pat worked for over 20 years for the Maine Department of Human Services. She was a child support enforcement agent and food stamps eligibility specialist.
Advocacy for Congress Square Park
In 2013, when the City attempted to sell Congress Square Park to the Eastland Hotel for a ballroom, Pat was among the first neighborhood volunteers who banded together to fight the sale. That effort grew into a city-wide referendum in 2014.
Pat was among the volunteers who gathered enough signatures in one weekend to put protection of all city parks on the ballot. At the ballot box the citizen effort won again. Today, all Portland parks enjoy a strong public hearing process and protections against sale.
Pat proudly served as Treasurer of the Friends of Congress Square for several years and as Treasurer of the Parkside Neighborhood Association.
A celebration of Pat’s life was held in Congress Square Park on June 3rd, 2026. Just as she wanted, she was remembered with photos, food, family, friends, memories, music, and dancing.
She is survived by her son Sean and daughter Bernadette, a grandson, Evan, and many neighbors and friends, all of whom smile to remember Pat’s endless collection of multi-colored hats. They all encourage you to think of Pat while eating ice cream and attending a movie or concert in Congress Square Park on a cool summer evening.
Donations may be given in her memory to the Friends of Congress Square Park and Friends of Deering Oaks Park.
