Jerry Lee Burdick

Jerry Burdick was born on June 24, 1939 to Elberta Ruth and Maurice Edwin Burdick in Tarzana, California. He was their youngest, growing up with two sisters, Joanne and Dorothy Ruth, and two brothers, Phil and Paul (known as “Rip”).

The family moved to Chatsworth when Jerry was about 10 years old. He spent many days hiking the rocky hills with his dog and BB gun, and helping out at the Iverson movie ranch, where he got to know many of his cowboy heroes.

He attended Chatsworth High School and began dating Marie, his future bride. Jerry and Marie married when they graduated high school and started a family. Their three daughters, Teresa, Michele, and Lisa were an inspiration to Jerry, and his love inspired him on to a successful career in accounting.

Jerry held a variety of jobs as a young father, while attending Woodbury University. At an accelerated pace, he completed two BBA degrees (Accounting and Business Management) and two MBA degrees (Economics and Marketing). Always striving for excellence, Jerry graduated with the honor of class valedictorian in his MBA programs.Jerry excelled throughout his career in finance and accounting, advancing in diverse and complex industries. He became a Certified Public Accountant and maintained this credential until his passing.

He held leadership positions in commercial and military manufacturing, textiles, certified public accounting, IT and software solutions, media post production, banking, plasma services, and business mergers and acquisitions. At Biomat Industries, Jerry served on the Board of Directors and served as Secretary. He also achieved his dream of becoming a Chief Financial Officer for a publicly listed company.

When Jerry and Marie divorced in 1985, he entered into a new chapter of his life. He met and married Peggy in 1992, after a courtship of several years. Together they shared a passion for tennis, travel, and wonderful dining experiences. Jerry and Peggy lived in Hermosa Beach before settling in Westlake Village in 1994, where they lived happily together until his passing on January 24,2025.

Jerry was always interested in athletics and sporting competition. In his teens, he was a catcher on the baseball team, and he competed successfully in track and field events. In adulthood he was an avid runner and tennis player. He ran the San Francisco marathon and participated in the 1984 Olympics torch run in Los Angeles. As a true tennis enthusiast, he played the game with gusto for the last 40 plus years of his life.

Jerry’s faith journey started as a boy, when he carried a pocket bible and explored different faiths through their religious services. He always believed in a higher power and Divine Creator. In 2015, when planning his beloved mother in law’s funeral mass, he came to embrace the Catholic faith, and was later baptized.

Those who knew Jerry will tell you what a kind, thoughtful, generous and fun-loving man he was. His laughter and smile were his trademarks, bringing joy to others. He was a man of great integrity, who would always stand by his word, show respect, and just do the right thing. Jerry was wonderfully unique, and he will be remembered always with a smile.