O’Donnell Roofing Co. held a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by The Exton Region Chamber of Commerce at its newest location in Berwyn this past October to celebrate 100 years of family ownership. The celebration continued when family, friends, co-workers and clients gathered for a well-deserved anniversary bash at Paxon Hollow Country Club.
The company, still strong and growing, has experienced many transitions over the past century. While much has changed, the family-owned and operated company says its values and commitments have stayed the same and have passed from generation to generation: quality workmanship, honest advice, a dedication to doing things right and putting the customer first.
O’Donnell Roofing Co.’s reputation for professionalism and dependability goes back four generations and an entire century. Owner Kevin O’Donnell’s great-grandfather Clement Aloysius (C.A.) O’Donnell founded the company in West Philadelphia in 1924. C.A. was taught the roofing trade and started doing small repairs and installing new roofs with a Philadelphia roofing and sheet metal company. His ambition led him to become a skilled roofing mechanic and entrepreneur. Back then, C.A. didn’t just focus on roofing but also provided a number of other services to its customers. During the winter season, he serviced oil burners and owned a metal shop that fabricated roofing and heating materials.
Since the 1920s, both the roofing industry and the O’Donnell family business have seen significant changes. In the 1950s, Kevin’s grandfather, Clement Aloysius Jr., took the reins from his father and maintained the company’s values for nearly 30 years. He explored newer options in roofing and siding as a more cost-effective way to meet client’s needs and expanded the company’s service to the Philadelphia suburbs. Then, in the 1980s, Kevin’s father, Laurence (Larry), took on the executive management role. Larry renamed and incorporated O’Donnell Roofing Co. and expanded services to include commercial roofing and historic restoration. Several of Larry’s restoration projects garnered attention, including projects at Longwood Gardens, Merion train station and Pomona Hall in Camden, among others. “My dad’s work became the area’s premier standard for custom metal and restoration roofing,” said Kevin. Kevin was 12 years old when he began working with his dad and learning the business. He attributes that time spent with his dad to his strong work ethic. After graduating from Haverford High School, Kevin moved to Vermont to study Business Administration Management at the Community College of Vermont. Kevin enjoyed running a deli and skiing as much as possible during his college years. But, ultimately, he knew he’d want to return to Pennsylvania and decided to move back to Havertown to work with his dad again.
Kevin quickly became a journeyman roofer and job site foreman. A few years later, he began focusing on sales and the growth of the business. Larry eventually passed the torch to Kevin, who took full ownership of the company in 2017. The company has been growing rapidly ever since, going from five employees to a staff of 100+. Larry continues to be a project manager, focusing on quality control, troubleshooting leaks and providing ongoing training to their installers and estimators.
O’Donnell Roofing Co.’s training and production hub is located in Upper Darby, and they recently opened a Berwyn location for offices and a showroom. In addition to residential and commercial roofing services, O’Donnell Roofing Co. also offers siding, gutter and window installation, solar panels and many other custom home exterior options.
Kevin said that not only are their staff experts in installation, but they are all hard-working and dependable. “From the sales staff, the managers to the roofing mechanics and installers, they’re happy and motivated, and that holds a lot of weight,” he said.
Not only is O’Donnell Roofing a long-time Sponsor in Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors, Kevin and his team actively volunteer with and donate to our local sports teams, to our community and to charity organizations. “We appreciate the strength of our community, and we wouldn’t be who we are without our customers,” said Kevin. This past fall, Kevin and his team raised a significant amount of money for Unite for HER, a local non-profit organization supporting those affected by breast and ovarian cancers. 
They held a “Dink for Pink” pickleball tournament that well exceeded their fundraising goal.
In addition to the tournament, O’Donnell Roofing Co. helps many other organizations throughout the year. They donated a new roof for a shed for the Newtown Square Petticoat League, and sponsored quite a few youth baseball and softball organizations. Their generosity was also extended to sponsor a few nonprofits in the first-ever Delco Gives Day, a family through Grands Stepping Up, the Mighty MoJo’s Warriors Run in honor of Molly Joan, who fought fiercely for 44 days against Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) at CHOP before passing away in September 2021 and have been a proud supporter of the Matthews Moonlight Foundation since it’s origination. This local nonprofit’s mission is to support families in the Delaware Valley who have suffered the loss of a child or are fighting childhood illness, bringing light to these families at their darkest hour.
That commitment to customers and the community has kept O’Donnell Roofing Co. in business for nearly 100 years. Over the past century, their mission to provide quality roofing ser- vices to their customers in a timely and professional manner hasn’t changed. Whether you are building a new house or renovating your current home, the exterior home will boost your curb appeal and show off your style. Call 610-624-8112 or visit their website at www.OdonnellRoofingCo.com for a free estimate on any of their services.