Gerald Allen Curl was born October 2, 1932 in Chicago, Illinois to Ralph James and Elanor Adelaide (Brunsman) Curl. He was the youngest of three. The family would eventually relocate to Paris, Illinois where Gerald would go through the primary school system. He got his doctorate degree in philosophy from Illinois State University (ISU) in 1963 and was then hired by ISU to be the director of the Student Financial Aid. He held this position until at least 1970, after that he became the Associate Dean of Students at Sangamon State University. He held this position until 1971 and was then given the position of Dean of Professional and Applied Studies.

He married Joan Swieczkowski in 1957 and they had one daughter, Kathryn Anne Brydon. Gearld passed away March 3, 2004 in Tucson, Arizona.