John O'Donnell's reaction when he was told he had weeks to live likely wouldn’t surprise those who know him.
“You’ve gotta go sometime,” he told OrilliaMatters this week.
O’Donnell, 74, the deputy mayor of Ramara Township, is known for his practical approach to council matters. It’s no different when it comes to his personal life.
Last July, he tripped over a chair and cracked some of his ribs. An X-ray revealed a lime-sized tumour on his lung and more on his spine. In early August, he underwent surgery to remove half of his lung.
“He’s just been dealing with complications since then,” said his son, Neil O’Donnell.
Doctors now believe the cancer has spread to his liver or kidneys, and they've told him he has just weeks left.
“We don’t know if that means three or four or 12,” Neil said.
John was released from Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital on Tuesday and sent home, where he lives with Kathy, his wife of 48 years.
During Wednesday’s chat with OrilliaMatters, he reflected on his 20 years in politics.
“I was always interested in politics. Never thought I’d be in it,” he said.
However, 1999 brought about some life-changing experiences. He had an operation for his prostate cancer and also suffered an injury on his farm.
No longer able to farm, he saw his chance to get into politics, as 2000 was a municipal election year.
“I figured, ‘Well, I can do that job,’” he said.
Voters agreed, and they sent him back to Brechin another five times.
“It’s been absolutely fantastic — the places we’ve gone, the people we’ve met, the people we’ve been able to help,” he said.
What he considers one of his greatest accomplishments is getting a County of Simcoe rapid response unit in the township in 2016, providing paramedic services 12 hours a day, seven days a week.
During his recent stay in the hospital, and since he has returned home, John has been “extremely humbled” by the outpouring of support.
Friends, family and fellow council members aren’t the only ones who have visited him or left him “flattering” messages. Constituents have done the same. A Facebook group that has been set up to provide updates on his condition includes an impressive amount of well wishes.
“It’s absolutely phenomenal. It’s very much appreciated,” he said. “It makes the job very worthwhile because I always said to the people, ‘I’m your servant.’”
It’s not necessarily surprising to his son, who knows his “antipolitician” father’s approach to politics has been refreshing to township residents.
“When he got into politics, a lot of his friends said, ‘You’re a natural. You know how to shovel shit and there’s a lot of that in politics,'” Neil said.
John channelled his inner farmer, started shovelling and hasn’t stopped for two decades.
“He’s always had a pragmatic approach to things. He doesn’t much care who he’s up against because it’s not about them; it’s about the people he’s representing,” Neil said. “I think that’s what got him elected time and time again. That type of politician is becoming an endangered species.”
While John has always stood his ground on council and had some heated debates with colleagues, “his heart was always in the right place and he never had malice against anyone,” Neil said.
Ramara Mayor Basil Clarke, first elected to council the same year as John, can attest to that.
“We would fight like cats and dogs at council, but we never took it home,” he said. “One thing I can always respect about him is he was always doing what was right and he wanted to move the township forward.”
“We miss him,” the mayor continued. “We’re really, really hoping for a miracle. We’re praying for him.”
The prayers are appreciated by John and his family, who are leaning on their faith during this difficult time.
“We’re fairly strong church goers,” John said. “I don’t know how people deal with this if they don’t believe in something after. Maybe there is, maybe there isn’t, but it helps.”
Asked how he wanted to be remembered by the community, he said, “as an honest, hard-working person.”
“I call it the way I see it. I work on a man’s word and handshake.”
