April 3, 2011 | Read Time: 1 minute
Age at death: 81
Major philanthropy job: Mr. O’Connell served 15 years as the first president of Independent Sector, in Washington, a coalition of charities and foundations. Before that, he served as head of the Independent Sector’s two precursor organizations, the National Council of Philanthropy and the Coalition of National Voluntary Organizations. He previously had worked as director of the American Heart Association’s California affiliate and then as national director of the National Mental Health Association, now called Mental Health America.
How he made his mark: In 1980, Mr. O’Connell founded Independent Sector along with John W. Gardner, a former Cabinet member in the Johnson administration who was then leading the Carnegie Corporation. Mr. O’Connell also helped establish two other organizations: the National Committee on Patients’ Rights, serving as its first chairman; and Civicus: World Alliance for Civic Participation, an international nonprofit network.
Other accomplishments: Mr. O’Connell wrote 14 books, including, most recently, a memoir titled Fifty Years in Public Causes: Stories from a Road Less Traveled.
How he will be remembered: “He was passionate about building the sector and, through his work and insight, advanced research and education that helped to create the next generation of leadership,” says Diana Aviv, Independent Sector’s current president.
Read an opinion article from Pablo Eisenberg, a Chronicle columnist, about Mr. O’Connell’s contributions.
