Jerry received his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1964. In April 1966, he was appointed a Cooperative Extension Specialist in Berkeley's Department of Agricultural Economics. 

As one of several CE specialists in the College, Jerry was widely known for his extension education and research work with agricultural producers and policymakers. He was also instrumental in helping other ARE specialists develop their work programs. His research centered on agricultural marketing, and he specialized in the California dairy, poultry, and tree crop industries. 

In mid-career, Jerry took leave to serve as Special Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. He subsequently returned to UC and, in 1980, was selected to head the then-integrated statewide CE organization of campus-based Specialists and county-based Farm/Home/Youth Advisors. After his term as Director of Cooperative Extension within the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources ended in 1988 with a major restructuring of DANR, Jerry resumed his extension program as a CE Specialist in ARE. 

Jerry was an enthusiastic Bear Backer with season tickets for men's and women's sports. His colleague Howard Rosenberg (Cooperative Extension Specialist Emeritus in ARE) recalls, "The last few times I encountered him were at basketball games in Haas Pavillion. Over the years we shared many a grumble after a strategic blunder, muffed catch, blown layup, fumble, inattentive referee, or whatever added to the agony of rooting for Cal. I do not doubt that our protracted Rose Bowl drought would be long over if Coach had sought and applied Jerry's wise counsel.” 

Jerry passed away on August 4, 2024 and will be missed by the ARE community.