For close to 40 years, Father Bill O'Donnell was a familiar sight on picket lines in the Bay Area and throughout California and the nation. He came to know jail cells as well as he knew the altar. Authorities arrested O'Donnell more than 240 times for his actions on behalf of workers (this included numerous arrests in support of Local 70).

Born on January 1, 1930, Father Bill died of a heart attack in his office at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Berkeley, where he served as senior pastor, on December 8.

O'Donnell's engagement with the labor movement began in 1965, then the priest met Cesar Chavez, starting a supportive but sometimes critical relationship with the Farm Workers' leader and a lifelong commitment to the struggle of organized labor.

"Father Bill was always ready to help. He was our teacher, mentor, priest and conscience;" Chuck Mack recalled at the memorial service held in Berkeley. "I had the honor of going to jail with him several times."

In 1973, Father Bill became pastor of St. Joseph the Worker. He was made senior pastor in 1995.

He was born on a ranch in Altamont. At 13, he entered the seminary at St. Joseph's College before moving to St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park. He was ordained in 1956. Outspoken from the start, Father Bill moved frequently before settling at St. Joseph the Worker's. He was 73 years old.