Gerald Arthur O’Neil ’54
Gerald Arthur O’Neil ’54 passed on March 20. He was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, where he lived most of his life, and graduated from Gloucester High School, where he played football, basketball, baseball, and track. He had a workout with the Philadelphia Phillies. He attended Deerfield Academy, where he played football, basketball, and baseball, and at Dartmouth captained the freshman football team. He left Hanover to earn his degree at the University of New Hampshire (UNH), where he played end on the football team. He served with the U.S. Army in South Korea. In 1958 he started a 35-year career as a history teacher and coach at Gloucester High and served 25 years as athletics director. He was instrumental in expanding athletic opportunities for girls under Title IX. Retired in 1993, Jerry earned a master’s in education from Salem State University in 1966 and taught swimming during the summer at local beaches. In retirement Jerry and Bonnie, to whom he was married for more than 60 years, traveled extensively, and he taught swimming at the nearby Cape Ann YMCA. Jerry was predeceased by his brother. He is survived by daughters Lisa and Kate, son Randy, nine grandchildren, and sister Sally.
