Jerry passed away in his sleep on July 18, 2005, in Cortez, Colorado, where he was on assignment with the Forest Service as an Air Tanker manager. He grew up in Salinas, California, and had a career with the USFS that included jobs in California, Oregon and Washington. Jerry took a position with the Custer N.F. in 1992 and had lived in Camp Crook, South Dakota until his death. Jerry jumped at Redding during the 1977 season.