Star Of Queens

Wednesday, January 30, 2008 4:32 PM EST

Gerard “Rod” O’Connell
Principal Broker, Bryce Rea Realty
Douglaston

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Gerard (though everyone calls him Rod) O’Connell has been called the unofficial mayor of Douglaston for his longstanding involvement in the community. It’s no wonder that he deserves this honorific, as he has been a prominent member of several local groups for years: the Douglaston Civic Association, Douglaston Club, Douglaston-Little Neck Historical Society, Alley Pond Environmental Center, Douglaston Community Chest and the local community theater. He believes these organizations contribute to the spirit of the neighborhood and hopes that “others will also be interested and hopefully get involved with these groups.” O’Connell notes, with a slightly mischievous note in his voice, that the community church theater usually calls him whenever they need someone to play a role that might make them look foolish. He has been asked to play Ed Sullivan, Alfred Hitchcock, as well as “some other characters that wear wigs.” People always want to see him in the wigs, “because they know I’ll bring the house down.”

PERSONAL: O’Connell, 62, has lived in Douglaston since 1945. He attended local schools: PS98, St. Anastasia’s and Holy Cross High School. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in business from Villanova University, he returned to Douglaston, where he has worked as a real estate broker for 28 years.

PROUDEST MOMENT: Last year, the Little Neck Douglaston Lions Club honored him as the “Lion of the Year” in recognition of his long history of service to the community. In addition, as a real estate broker, he’s proud of “being able to find homes for local families in Douglaston and Little Neck”

BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Trying to inspire others, particularly young people that have recently moved into Little Neck and Douglaston, to get involved in the community is always challenging, O’Connell said.

FAVORITE MEMORY: As a member of the Douglaston-Little Neck Historical Society, he was instrumental in the process for granting landmark status in 1997 to Douglas Manor Historic District, which features uniquely historic homes, some of which date from the early 19th century.

INSPIRATION: O’Connell feels that he’s “following in the footsteps of his father,” who moved to Douglaston in the 1940s and served as the controller for the New York Transit Authority. Even when he was a small child, his father would often bring him along to civic meetings which gave him a deep sense of civic responsibility and pride.

- By Terry Chun