John Francis O'Connell was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on September 1, 1915, one of six children born to Timothy J. and Margaret Mary (Harrington) O'Connell. He attended St. John the Evangelist Grammar School (1920-29) and St. John the Evangelist High School (1929-33) in Cambridge and then Providence College, Providence, Rhode Island (1933-37), where he earned a B.A. degree in mathematics.

In August of 193 7 he entered the Dominican Novitiate of the Province of St. Joseph at St. Rose Priory, Springfield, Kentucky, where he received the religious name Gerard. On August 16, 1938, he made his first profession of vows there and was transferred to St.

Thomas Aquinas Priory, River Forest, Illinois, for his philosophical and theological studies (1938-45), obtaining a degree in philosophy. Having chosen to become one of the founding members of the Province of St. Albert the Great when it was established on December 22, 1939, he professed his solemn vows for the new province on August 16, 1941 and was ordained a priest at River Forest on June 8, 1944.

Following his theological studies he assigned to do advanced work in mathematics and physics at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin (1 945-46) and was then assigned to the faculty of Fenwick High School, Oak Park, Illinois, where he taught mathematics, English and religion (1946-51). In 1951 he was sent to St. Peter Martyr Priory, Winona, Minnesota, where he served as novice master of lay brother candidates, assistant novice master of clerical candidates, and procurator of the priory. In addition he taught philosophy and theology at the College of St. Teresa in Winona. In 1956 was chosen to be the director of Smyth Hall at Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa, a residence for college students who were preparing to enter the novitiate. Here again he taught on the college faculty for the two years that he served as director. In May of 1958 he was appointed prior of St. Thomas Aquinas Priory, River Forest, Illinois, the house of studies for philosophy, and was elected to a second term in 1961.

Upon completion of his term as prior he asked to be assigned to pastoral work and became an assistant pastor at St. Albert the Great Parish, Minneapolis, Minnesota (1964- 70). In 1970 be began a nine-month program at the Hazelden Center, Hazelden, Minnesota, and came to the conclusion that the need for priests trained to do alcoholic counseling was critical. He then began to prepare himself for this ministry, completing several quarters of Clinical Pastoral Education. For eighteen years (1972-90) he served as chaplain and alcoholic counselor, first at St. John's Hospital, St. Paul, Minnesota, and St. Mary's Hospital, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and then only at St. Mary's Hospital. During this time he took many through the fifth step of the Twelve Step Program of Alcoholics' Anonymous. From 1990 at the age of 75 until his death he was assigned to limited service but continued to do fifth step ministry and assist in parishes in the Minneapolis area.

In l 993 he was diagnosed with cancer and while undergoing treatment continued to carry on his limited ministry. Because he had exhausted available treatments, in October of 2001 he entered Our Lady of Good Counsel Home, St. Paul, Minnesota, where he received hospice care. He died there on the evening of November 3, 2001. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Albert the Great Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota, on November 7, 2001 with burial in the Dominican Plot at St. Mary's Cemetery, in Minneapolis.