Gerry died June 10, 1997, in Modesto, California. He was born October 21, 1936, in Republic, Kansas and attended schools in Courtland, Kansas before getting his degree from Colorado
A&M. Gerry became a Navy on the aircraft carrier USS Ranger. After leaving the military, he flew for United Airlines for 30 years before retiring in 1994. Gerry jumped at Missoula during the 1956-57 seasons.