Anthony Daniel McGrath was born 10 September 1931in Stella, Nebraska to Thomas Francis McGrath and Lucille Jesse (Bianchi) McGrath. He had one younger sister, Mary McGrath. Father McGrath attended Gretna Elementary School in Gretna, Nebraska (1936-45) then Bellevue High School in Bellevue. He transferred to Cathedral High School in Omaha, Nebraska for his last two years of high school, where he graduated in 1949. Seeking a call to religious life and the Dominican Order, he made application and was accepted to study in the fall of 1949 at Loras College, Smyth Hall, in Dubuque in preparation to join the Order. He was received into the Order and given the Dominican habit on 30 August 1951 and received the religious name of Jordan, which kept for the rest of his religious life. Father McGrath made his first profession of vows on 31 August 1952 at Saint Peter Martyr Priory in Winona, Minnesota in the hands of Father Reginald Hughes, O.P. He professed final vows at Saint Rose Priory in Dubuque, Iowa on 31 August 1958 in the hands of Father Anthony Norton, O.P., prior. His studies in Philosophy were done at Aquinas Institute of Philosophy in River Forest, Illinois from 1952-55 and in Theology at Aquinas Institute of Theology in Dubuque, Iowa from 1955-59. He was ordained at Saint Rose Priory in Dubuque on 23 May 1959 by Bishop Loras Lane. He continued studies after ordination at DePaul University in Chicago, earning a master's degree in Mathematics in 1967.

Father McGrath was a Math teacher for many years. He taught at Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois from 1959-1989 then later at Morton College in Cicero, Illinois from 1997-2008. He also served in pastoral ministry and was the parochial vicar at Saint Vincent Ferrer Parish, River Forest (1989-93), Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Omaha (1993-94), and Blessed Sacrament Parish in Madison, Wisconsin (1994-97).

After many years of teaching and pastoral ministry, Father McGrath went on limited service residing at Saint Thomas Aquinas Priory in River Forest until it closed. From there he moved to Saint Vincent Ferrer Priory, also in River Forest for the next several years. Over the years, Father McGrath enjoyed two hobbies, falconry and trains, both of which he was quite knowledgeable. One of his personal characteristics which will be remembered was that he was rarely seen without his cowboy boots!

As his health continued to decline, he was transferred to our assisted living center at Saint Pius V Priory in Chicago. He spent his last days at Resurrection Life Center in Chicago where he died peacefully on Sunday, 5 August 2018 at the age of eighty-six.

At the time of his death, he was survived by one sister, Mary Louise McGrath of Omaha, as well as numerous cousins and close family friends. Services were held at Saint Vincent Ferrer Church in River Forest, IL on Friday, 10 August 2018 beginning with sung Morning Prayer at 9:00AM followed by visitation with Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00AM. Father James V. Marchionda, O.P., Prior Provincial presided at the Mass and Father Richard Woods, O.P., preached. A reception was held at Kyte Hall at Saint Vincent Ferrer Parish. Burial was at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines, Illinois. A memorial Mass was held in Omaha at Saint Cecilia Cathedral on 20 August 2018. Funeral arrangements were handled by Smith Corcoran Funeral Home in Chicago.