Tuesday, Sept 9, 2025
Last week, our industry lost a true leader with the unexpected passing of Mary O’Donnell of Westcor. Mary was more than a successful executive—she was a woman of vision, integrity, and heart. She led with clarity and conviction, always keeping the future of our industry in view while never losing sight of the people who make it run. I remember her grace and grit, her laugh, and her sparkly eyes that held more than a bit of orneriness, too. Those who worked with her speak not only of her business acumen but also of her generosity, her ability to listen, and her drive to lift others as she climbed.
Mary’s loss follows others we’ve felt recently across our field this year. Each time, it hits hard; not merely because of the personal connections, but because these leaders carried in them so much of this industry’s shared wisdom, courage, and character. Their absence leaves a void, not only in their companies but in the shared conversation of our profession. It’s as if your sibling’s chair at the dining table is suddenly empty.
If you knew Mary, there’s a 100% chance she had complimented your effort or your achievement in something important to you—she seemed to just know what was important to your heart. Someone who lives their life like that; is a miracle to our own.
It is sobering to be reminded how finite our time is. These losses ask us to consider: what do we carry forward from the examples of those who came before us? How do we honor their legacies in the way we show up for our colleagues, in the standards we hold for ourselves, and in the vision we cultivate for the future?
Mary’s absence will be deeply felt, but her example remains. The best way to honor her—and others we’ve recently lost—is to continue the work with the same clarity, integrity, and sense of purpose they modeled for us. Their voices may be gone, but their influence lives on every time we notice what matters to someone else, offer encouragement, or lead with both heart and conviction—just as Mary always did.