Gianelly was born in
Boston in 1936, and was the younger of two brothers. He attended
Harvard College and played in the
Harvard Crimson football team as a leading fullback and a linebacker in the varsity football team during the 1954–1956 season. He also was part of
Harvard rugby and the Harvard track and field team. He received his dental degree from
Harvard School of Dental Medicine in 1961 and received his orthodontics degree in 1963. He became a research fellow in Orthodontics at Harvard in 1963, and was appointed associate professor of orthodontics at Boston University in 1967. He obtained his PhD degree in biology and biochemistry from
Boston University in 1967 and received his MD degree from
Boston University School of Medicine in 1974. While obtaining his PhD degree, he also became a full-time professor at Boston University School of Dental Medicine, a position he held until his death. He died of a heart attack at the age of 72 on May 28, 2009. Gianelly is survived by his wife, two children, and two grandchildren. == Orthodontics ==