In the year of the new millennium, Jerry's professional path crossed mine. Eleven years later, almost to the day, we mourn his passing.  I salute him for having been an important mentor in my career, a man who was extremely generous with his professional knowledge and expertise, a man who touched the lives of thousands of students over several decades as a professor at Colorado State University. His voice will carry on in his life work: 'Parent-Child Relations: An Introduction to Parenting' (Published by Pearson), an outstanding work regarded as a benchmark for textbooks in this category.

When we first collaborated, it was as part of a project funded by the Pew Charitable Trust. Jerry's vitae was overwhelmingly impressive with dozens of publications, and years of hands on teaching as a professor in Human Development and Family Studies and working in child care related settings.  He was a Certified Family Life Educator and had been a member of NCFR since 1966. He also had a noteworthy presence as the senior editor of the Journal of GLBT Family Studies, and was passionate about respecting human diversity in its many forms. His was a strong and fearless voice at a time and in a context when many only whispered. Jerry leaves a legacy behind:  in his publications, in the influence he has had on the countless students and colleagues who have internalized aspects of his teachings and on all the significant persons in his life: his closest and dearest.

In what was to be the last year of his life, Jerry made the bold move to courageously follow his dream yet again.  He moved to his beloved Maui to see Hawaiian rainbows and sunsets, to snorkel and swim, and to let the beach sand tickle his toes.  He had fulfilled all his dreams.  He had made peace with his world. He had had a rich and prolific professional life, respected by his peers. He leaves behind all those who loved and appreciated him - we feel we lost him too early; he still had so much to give.  But we feel immensely privileged to have been touched by his presence. Rest in Peace Jerry, or in your last words to me: "See ya my friend!"