Richard "Rich" Lee O'Donnell, a visionary percussionist, composer, educator, and tireless champion of contemporary music, peacefully passed away at home on October 1, 2026, in St. Louis, Missouri. He was 89 years old.

Born on February 13, 1937, Rich leaves behind a monumental 65-year legacy that completely reshaped the sonic landscape of St. Louis. He graduated from Ritenour High School in 1955, where his budding musical talents set the foundation for a brilliant future, later earning him an induction into the Ritenour High School Hall of Fame in 2002.

His extraordinary professional journey launched during high school, in the 1950s, where he surrounded himself with the energy of legendary jazz musicians at Peacock Alley in St. Louis. His passion for percussion took him to study at North Texas University in Denton, Texas. It was there that he met his first wife, Angelica Garris. The two married in 1959 and together they raised their three amazing daughters, Deirdre, Andrea, and Alexa.

In 1999 Rich and Anna Lum were wed at Pickle Springs Natural Area in Missouri, fittingly on the edge of a cliff with a beautiful view of landscape and sky behind them. It was then that their families blended together to total 6 terrific daughters.

An artist of limitless curiosity, Rich O’Donnell’s multi-faceted career spanned roles as a virtuoso percussionist, improviser, composer, writer, and pioneering instrument designer. Driven by a desire to push the physical boundaries of percussion, he developed the original teardrop-shaped O’Donnell Multi-Timbrel Triangle Beater in 1971. Described as "soft enough to give a rich tone and hard enough to resist dings and scratches," the beater has become an industry standard and is sold worldwide today. Later, he invented a revolutionary playing technique known as SeeSaw Drumming. Utilizing entirely new types of sticks and custom-designed pedals of his own creation, the hardware debuted in 2000 and earned three patents from the U.S. Patent Office.

For 43 years, Rich was a foundational pillar of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, spending the majority of his tenure as the orchestra's principal percussionist until his retirement in 2002. While playing in the classical orchestral tradition, his true passion lay in pushing the boundaries of sound. He dedicated 49 years to encouraging, facilitating, and programming independent contemporary music as the music director of the St. Louis New Music Circle, a role he held until 2009.

Rich’s inventive mind seamlessly bridged the worlds of acoustic and electronic performance. From 1980 to 2018, he served as the director of the Electronic Music Studio at Washington University, where he mentored generations of young musicians and explored the infinite possibilities of computer and electronic music. In 2009, continuing his lifelong mission to champion unconventional art, he co-founded the HEARding Cats Collective—an innovative artists' collective dedicated to keeping the St. Louis creative community delightfully "strange and wonderful." He found rhythm in all things, ranging from random household items (like a ball rolling on a flat surface) to the sounds of nature (think whale songs and water). If you listen closely, you will discover these sounds imbedded into his electronic music. He even once composed a spooky piece blending in his daughters’ voices and broadcasted this throughout the neighborhood using his huge speakers (that he also built) every Halloween.

Beyond the concert hall, Rich had a wonderful goofy side that he likely inherited from his mother. This playful side would emerge while he was with his children and grandchildren by making funny comments, silly faces, coloring pictures, and even donning dress-up clothes and wigs. It is likely Halloween was his favorite holiday. He embraced an eclectic mix of passions. A true explorer of both the earth and the mind, he loved building black powder guns, spelunking, canoeing, camping, bike riding, capturing the world through photography, and exploring the outdoors. Rich was a prolific traveler and journeyed to many places in North America, South America, Asia, Europe, and Africa. Every year when his kids were growing up, they took family vacations camping in the wilderness and amongst the rocks and boulders of the American West. Believing deeply in the power of perspective, he took some of his grandchildren on these global journeys, gifting them the invaluable opportunity to experience the world first-hand through his eyes. When close to home, some of his simple, most memorable moments were spent with his loved ones swimming, hiking, canoeing and sailing at the family cabin in Cedar Hill, MO.

Rich was the ultimate maker—a man who could truly build, craft, or fix absolutely anything. His hands were constantly at work remodeling family kitchens and bathrooms and repairing just about anything that was broken. He possessed a lifelong love of trains, which culminated in his remarkable ability to build live steam locomotives big enough to ride on. As a dedicated member of the St. Louis Live Steamers, he loved sharing the intricate mechanics of steam technology with fellow enthusiasts. His proudest engineering feat, however, was installing a small custom train and track right in his own backyard, creating endless joy and magical rides for his children and grandchildren.

Whether he was meticulously building an electronic synthesizer, developing revolutionary drumming gear, remodeling a kitchen, reading while smoking his pipe, tuning in to Mystery Theatre, or laughing at a Hagar the Horrible comic strip, Rich approached everything with wonder and awe. He had a rare gift for finding deep fascination in the simple things and sharing his experiences and knowledge with those around him. Yet, for all of his brilliant inventions, global adventures, and artistic accolades, the most cherished memories his family holds are of the simple moments watching him in pure joy playing with or reading to his grandchildren, giving them his full attention and his endless imagination.

Rich is survived by his wonderful wife, Anna Lum; his remarkable daughters, Deirdre O’Donnell (Bob Bruchsaler), Andrea Harris (Justus Harris), and Alexa O’Donnell (Jerry Becker); his impressive stepdaughters, Rachel Lum (Al Gasiewski), Sharon Lum (Ahmed Abouzamzam), and Debbie Lum (Jonathan Reid); and his cherished grandchildren: Michael Bruchsaler (Kara Bruchsaler), Jared Bruchsaler (Hanna Bruchsaler), Magnus Harris, Sophia and Cora Becker, Alexander and Mateja Gasiewski, Aida, Zafir, and Safia Abouzamzam, and Nina, Anna, and Eva Reid. He is also survived by his lovely great-granddaughter, Lorelai Bruchsaler, and two great-grandsons arriving soon, Oliver Bruchsaler and Charlie Bruchsaler!

He was preceded in death by his loving parents, Rodney and Mary (Dee) O’Donnell; his great-granddaughter, Amelia “Mia” Quinn Bruchsaler; other beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins; and his favorite dog, Bear.

He also leaves behind a vast community of musicians, friends, and colleagues whose lives and art were forever altered by his guidance, generosity, and brilliant imagination.

A graveside service and interment will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, at Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum in St. Louis, MO (https://www.bellefontainecemetery.org/).

A celebration of his extraordinary life, music, and wonderfully unique spirit will be announced at a later date.

Donations may be made in his memory to HEARDing Cats Collective at https://www.heardingcatscollective.com/support.

Rich also has a website if you want to check it out: https://www.richodonnell.com/.

https://www.bellefontainecemetery.org/obituaries?name=richard-lee-odonnell