January 2, 1940, Hastings, Nebraska

October 22, 2026, Denver, Colorado

Jerry was the sixth of nine children born to Leo and Helen Buckley, all of whom preceded him in death save for his wonderful sister, Peg Braunsdorf (Paul). As a teenager in Nebraska, he had the good fortune of being mentored by a businessman named Lyle Kerr. Lyle’s presence in Jerry’s life proved transformative, opening the door to a future in medicine.

Jerry graduated from St. Benedict’s College in Atchison, Kansas and moved to Omaha, Nebraska to attend Creighton University School of Medicine. While attending med school, Jerry met his wife, Susie (Olhasso), a student at Duchesne College. A year after marrying, Jerry and Susie welcomed their son, Michael (Kathryn) and moved to Ankara, Turkey for two years while Jerry served in the Air Force as a pediatrician on a NATO assignment.

In Ankara, Jerry’s interest in treating asthma grew out of necessity due to the pollution in Turkey afflicting many of his patients. He returned to the United States, completed a fellowship at National Jewish, and became board certified in allergy and asthma. Jerry founded Colorado Allergy & Asthma Clinic in 1970 alongside two respected colleagues and friends, David S. Pearlman and Sanford E. Avner. Jerry and Susie’s daughter, Julie Groves (Matt) was born in 1971, completing their family.

Jerry’s commitment to the community began when he launched Champ Camp, the first summer camp available to children with asthma in the Rocky Mountain Region. Jerry expanded his community outreach and began the Metro Denver Provider Network in Aurora (n/k/a Metro Community Provider Network), to provide primary health care to the under and uninsured.

In 1991, Jerry received his MBA from the University of Colorado at Denver and four years later he left private practice to become the Chairman and CEO of Copic, a medical malpractice insurance company. During his ten-year tenure, Copic began expanding into other states and now operates nationally.

After retirement, Jerry served on the boards of the Colorado Trust, the Colorado Health Foundation, Mercy Housing, and Health One. He also thoroughly enjoyed teaching first year medical students at Anschutz.

Jerry’s professional accomplishments were no match for his greatest role - Bompa, to his six grandchildren: Colin, Shannon, Ryan, Patrick, MacLaughlin, and Maggie. From the time they were infants, Moma (Susie) and Bompa relished opportunities to spend time with their grands, doing anything or nothing at all. Our hearts are heavy and the holes are big, but we take solace in the fact that Jerry is reunited with God, his wife, parents, and siblings and enjoying an ice cold Stella.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

The family will hold a private service. Cards and memories may be shared via Buckley/Groves: P.O. Box 6277 Denver, CO 80206.