Gary Joseph O'Connell passed away on January 12, 2026. He was born on October 9, 1960 in Lewiston to parents Frank and Pauline O’Connell. Educated in the Lewiston school system, he graduated from Lewiston High School in 1979, where he met his lifelong partner Mako.
On March 3, 1979, he was enlisted by his father into the Army National Guard, in which he served 29 years. During his time in the guard, he received the leadership award as an enlisted man, NCO and Officer. In 2003, he served an 18 month term in Iraq, where he earned the Bronze Star.
An avid sports fan, Gary would often bet cups of coffee or sweets on games. He loved all New England teams, but Notre Dame and Army were always the most special to him. He also loved traveling to places he’d never been, learning as much as he could about them and highlighting the roads he took to get there in his gazetteer.
High school sweethearts, Gary and Mako met in the 9th grade as fencing partners and began dating senior year. They married on July 17, 1982. Gary has never enjoyed being the center of attention and encouraged Mako to always find the spotlight. He never could say no to any of her creative ideas or ventures.
A devoted father, you could always find (or hear) him coaching a sports team of one of his children, in a dunk tank at a school fair, waving some pom poms at a cheering competition, or anywhere else his kids were.
Gary’s favorite title he ever held was Pa. His favorite pastime late in life was taking Emree on an adventure somewhere or trying something new together.
Gary is survived by his wife Mako, son Patrick and wife Courtney, daughter Tamiko and husband Nick, granddaughter Emree, mother Pauline, brother George and his wife Sandy, brother Greg, sister Maureen and her husband Lee, and many cousins and nieces/nephews.
