CINCINNATI — People gathered in Bond Hill on Friday as a memorial service was held for the late Dr. O'dell Owens.
The longtime Cincinnati health leader passed away on Nov. 23. He was 74 years old.
Owens' daughter Morgan released this statement regarding his death:
My dad was everything. My family and I are at a loss. My father gave so much to this world, his life long mission was to make a difference. He certainly did. He touched so many lives, Dad your legacy will live on. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers.
Owens retired in March 2021 after spending five years as president and CEO of health equity nonprofit Interact for Health.
"I retire knowing that, together, we’ve made a lasting impact on our community’s health," Owens said in March when he left Interact for Health.
Interact for Health released a statement Wednesday afternoon regarding Owens' death:
The staff and Board of Interact for Health are deeply saddened by the death of Dr. O’dell Owens, our former President and CEO. We extend our condolences to his wife Marchelle, and children Christopher, Justin and Morgan.
Dr. Owens took care of our community from cradle to grave. He was a trailblazer, a leader, a friend and a mentor to many. During his four and a half years at Interact for Health, Dr. Owens worked to improve access to health care via school-based health centers, reduce tobacco use, address the opioid epidemic and improve health equity in the region. His contributions to the foundation were part of a long career to improve health in Greater Cincinnati. He will be deeply missed, and his legacy will continue to inspire work for years to come.
I was just with Dr Odell Owens this past Saturday. I am devastated to hear the news of his passing. We loss a giant leader and I loss a family friend. I can’t believe this. Sending prayers to the Owens family. 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/CbvpSvYFjZ
— alicia reece (@aliciareece) November 23, 2022
Wow!😲 What a loss for the family, the community & the World. Dr. O'dell Owens, such an awesome Man. Thx u for all ur gifts & services u gave to us. U will be greatly missed. Prayer going out to all the family & friends. R.I.P. dear brother Owens...🙏🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/c34FgaIZj9
— Bootsy Collins (@Bootsy_Collins) November 23, 2022
Dr. Owens left an immeasurable impact on our city, through his lifetime of public service and his years dedicated to the health and education of our residents.
Our heartfelt condolences to his family and those whose lives he touched. His legacy will never leave us. https://t.co/nDZAA5ZAmB
— Aftab Pureval (@AftabPureval) November 23, 2022
Chief Administrator Andrea S. Hatten with the Hamilton County Coroner's Office released this statement:
We are truly saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Dr. Odell Owens. During his more than 5 years as coroner he continued his life’s mission of positively impacting the lives of young people by encouraging them to stay in school, seek higher education and make good social choices. His legacy within the Cincinnati community is without question, and his impact will continue.
On a personal note, he had been my professor in medical school and was someone I called for advice and guidance before accepting this position as coroner. He encouraged me to take the role and bring the office into the 21st century. He was planning on visiting the new crime lab next week for a tour and to learn about how we perform virtual autopsy which we had discussed 10 years ago. I considered him a friend and mentor and he will be greatly missed.
According to Interact for Health, Owens earned both a MD and Master of Public Health from Yale University Medical Schools, where he went on to complete a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology at Harvard Medical School.
He returned to his hometown of Cincinnati in the 1980s and establish the University of Cincinnati Medical Center's in vitro fertilization program, and he achieved the first "successful conception and delivery as well as the first pregnancy from the frozen embryo."
In 2004, he was elected to the Hamilton County Coroner's office, and he was the first Black person to sere in an executive office in the county's history. He was then reelected in 2008.
Hamilton County Prosecutor, Joe Deters worked with Owens during this time. They also worked together on the University of Cincinnati Board of Trustees.
"He didn't have to go into UC's Board of Trustees, he didn't have to be the coroner. He did it because he cared about the community," Deters said.
He became the president of Cincinnati State in 2010 until 2015 when he was hired as the Cincinnati Health Department's medical director.
While acting as medical director, he briefly served as interim health commissioner in 2016 before leaving for Interact for Health.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Owens was one of Cincinnati's most vocal advocates for COVID-19 vaccination in the Black community.
In February 2022, Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey said Owens created a video that likely saved lives after he filmed a plea for inmates to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
McGuffey granted Owens an honorary badge after his efforts.
Outside of his medical career, Owens served on the board of the Cincinnati Fire Foundation, the Carl H, Lindner Jr. Family Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) at the Cincinnati Zoo, the Ronald McDonald House and many more.
He was also involved with the U.S. Bancorp Board of Directors for 29 years.
For a decade, he also volunteered as chair of the annual CET Action Auction, which supports Cincinnati's public television programming.
In August 2021, a mural of Dr. Owen was unveiled at the CET building in the West End.
In 2020, the Cincinnati Regional Chamber named Owens one of its "Great Living Cincinnatians," which features four individuals each year who have left a significant, indelible mark on the Greater Cincinnati area.
Owens was also very involved in volunteering with the Salvation Army, especially the Red Kettle campaign. He had his own portion of the campaign for 15 years called O'Dell's Bells.
"He cared deeply about the people in need in the community. Whether it was their education or their health needs, or their basic needs," Major Timothy Lyle, the Divisional commander of Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky for the Salvation Army said.
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Dr. O'dell Owens, longtime Cincinnati health leader, retires
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