“New York City’s film and television industry has lost an icon with the passing of Thomas R. O’Donnell, who spent more than 50 years as the President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 817 and retired earlier this year. Tommy was a mainstay of the industry and should be credited as one of the driving forces that led to the revitalization of the City’s film industry in the late 1960s and the creation of the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting. Today, the City is a thriving center of film and television production, and it’s thanks in no small part to Tommy’s efforts. His commitment to education and the next generation can also be felt through the ‘Made in NY’ Scholarship Fund, which was made possible by a generous donation from Teamsters Local 817 to the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, and is awarded to outstanding students who attend New York City College of Technology and are pursuing a baccalaureate degree in the Entertainment Technology field. Tommy’s impact on New York City’s entertainment industry will not soon be forgotten.”