To interact with Los Gatos on a more personal level, O'Donnell decided to become involved with the Los Gatos Union School District. What ensued was a 22-year run as a district board trustee, the longest term anyone has ever served on that board.

O'Donnell has a tremendous respect for Los Gatos, which he sought to serve through good times and bad—years that included four superintendents, school bonds, parcel taxes and severe budget cuts. His peers said he took it all in stride, however, lending a steady hand and legal knowledge to difficult proceedings that could have brought the district to its knees.

"He was always respected as a senior board member," says Steve Glickman, who served 10 years on the board with O'Donnell. "He had great influence. He was an example to many people in his service on the board and as a brilliant attorney."

Mary Ann Park vividly remembers O'Donnell's work when she first came on as superintendent, as he helped reshape the district after an unstable period.

"He was always really helpful in being clear in discussing issues and helping the rest of the board and myself work through those issues," Park says. "He was a very good board member for many, many years."

Of all the years to step down and retire from the board, O'Donnell doesn't have a very specific reason for his choice of 2002, other than it was just time to move on. "I could have been a board member for the rest of my life," he says, "but I thought it was time for fresh blood."

O'Donnell says his reason for leaving was not influenced by negative changes in the board or district. In fact, it was the positive changes that helped push his decision.

"I stayed because I really liked working with the teachers and working for something that was valuable. It was an opportunity to work with wonderful board members, and those members made me realize there are others out there to find that are just as great. They needed this change."

Dorothy Rouse, who served with O'Donnell for six years, always admired his ability to blend legal knowledge with district know-how. "I was always impressed by his ability to use the English language precisely. He always chooses his words extremely carefully, which I think comes from his legal background," Rouse says. "He was always extremely interested in the district and very fiscally responsible. He was a real asset to this district."

Glickman also thought O'Donnell's background was very instrumental.

"Tom led the pack. He shared his knowledge and rolled up his sleeves to get work done, even when it was not required," Glickman says. "It was really nice to have someone with Tom's breadth of experience on the board, explaining to you that 'this is what needs to be done and this is how you do it.' "

At his last meeting, O'Donnell received a momentous surprise—the district announced that it would name its new building, set to be on the Fisher Middle School site, after him.

"I was stunned," he says. "I had no idea. I couldn't talk. It was just a wonderful, unexpected thing."

Park says it was a unanimous decision to name the building after him and characterizes it as a way to "thank him for his years of service and wise counsel. We will certainly miss his input and direction."

Despite O'Donnell's retirement from the board, he is not quite ready to retire from public life. "I'm looking for something new to do in the community," he says. "I just don't know what it is yet."