Gerald David Burkhardt

Date of Death: July 30, 2025
Date of Birth: February 11, 1959
On Wednesday, July 30 2025, the world lost a true hero with the passing of Gerald David Burkhardt, age 66, of Lisbon Falls, Maine, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Lovingly known as "Jerry", he was the son of John and Marion (Jones) Burkhardt of Mattituck, New York, born in the midst of a snow storm at Central Suffolk Hospital in Greenport, New York, on February 11, 1959. He passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by family and friends.
Jerry grew up in Mattituck with his parents, sister Barbara, and brothers Paul and Jay, in a humble home on Pike Street next to the fire station where his father served as a fireman. At a young age he learned the value of hard work, being employed at local farms and helping his father harvest clams and scallops from the Great Peconic Bay. He carried this work ethic into his school years, attending Mattituck – Cutchogue High School, where he excelled as a star athlete in soccer, basketball, and baseball, graduating in 1977. His love for athletics and the lessons it taught were carried and shared long into his life.
It was during his school years Jerry met the love of his life, Jean Schwicker, who he dated through their youth and eventually married on March 4, 1978. His love for Jean was only matched by their three children, their daughter Jessica and sons Jeffrey and Joel. The family moved a few times early on but eventually settled in a loving home in Lisbon Falls, Maine in 1985. Here they established deep roots in the community where Jerry became well known as a handy man, youth sports coach, volunteer, good neighbor, and friend to all.
Shortly after high school Jerry enlisted in the US Navy where he proudly served 8 years of active-duty service, beginning as an Aviation Electronics Technician in support of two fighter squadrons (VF-11 and VF-74) maintaining the tactical weapons systems of the F-4J fighter jet, stationed at NAS Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia. During this time, he deployed at sea aboard the USS Forrestal with cruises to the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and North Atlantic assigned as a flight deck troubleshooter / final checker. He continued his active-duty service at Brunswick NAS in Brunswick, Maine, working as a technician in the calibration lab and also as an Honor Guard Squad Leader.
Upon his honorable discharge from the US Navy in 1985 Jerry enlisted in the Maine Army National Guard where he continued his military career as a drafting supervisor to the 133rd Battalion in support of all heavy construction drafting functions. Jerry stayed with the MeARNG until 1989 but remained on inactive ready reserve status until 1990.
In 1990 Jerry reenlisted in the US Navy Reserves and worked in the calibration lab based out of So. Weymouth, Massachusetts in support of CV-67 USS JF Kennedy. He maintained his US Navy Reserve status until retiring from the military in 2000, with a combined 23 years of active duty / reserve service.
Concurrent with his military service, Jerry began civilian employment in 1985 with VSC Corp as a logistics technician in support of upgrading USCG Hamilton class ships at Bath Iron Works. In 1987 he transitioned to Lockheed Support Systems assigned to engineering changes for upgrades to the P-3C Naval aircraft. Then, in 1988, Jerry began his career with BIW as an electrical designer. He worked in many aspects of BIW eventually becoming an Engineering Principal Technician, working to support overhauls and upgrades to the US Navy Arleigh Burke class destroyers. Jerry was extremely proud of his work at BIW and saw it as his way to continue serving his country. He took pride in knowing his work directly impacted the safety and security of his fellow sailors who were being sent into harm's way. His life's work was spent protecting others, not just the men and women of our armed forces but all of the United States.
Though he put in endless hours to support his family, work was only a small portion of Jerry's life. What he truly enjoyed was spending time with his family and friends. Jerry loved to travel with his wife Jean and family, jetting off to wherever fun could be found. It would be impossible to recap all the places explored and enjoyed but it seemed Jerry and Jean were always heading off on some adventure, sometimes with the whole crew, sometimes to visit with friends and family wherever they may be, and other times to just enjoy each other, taking a brief moment to recognize the beautiful life they had built together.
He was also an avid lover of the outdoors and did all he could to enjoy nature. Whenever time allowed Jerry could be found walking the beaches of Long Island in search of jingle shells with his daughter Jessica, hiking and hunting the woods of Maine with his son Jeff, and fishing anywhere and everywhere with his youngest son and little buddy Joel. Fishing was his true passion, a pastime carried on from growing up on Long Island. Jerry would chase fish anywhere and could be found fishing the creeks and beaches of the North Fork in pursuit of stripers and blues, paddling the lakes and rivers of Maine to surprise a bass, or hiking the woods and mountains of New England in search of the perfect trout hole. He truly enjoyed the annual fishing trips planned for Joel's birthday where the boys would get away to a special place to spend time together and reel in some big ones.
Jerry's love for sports was another huge part of his life. Though he was never much of a "car guy" he loved NASCAR and enjoyed following the races, traveling to many different tracks to catch the thrill of motor sports with Jean and his best friends.
His passion for sports also spread into the community assisting as a youth sports coach for various local teams. He spent many years volunteering and coaching with several Special Olympics teams and was very proud to help bring the love of sports to those who needed it most. He also fostered a love of sports among his own children, which he was very proud of. He made every attempt to teach and guide his children and was at every sporting event he could possibly attend, motivating all three in all of their sporting endeavors. But what he truly loved the most was watching each of his grandchildren continue his legacy of star athletics, travelling far and wide, sometimes across the country, just to see the grandchildren excel in soccer, cross country, wrestling, softball, and track. Seeing his grandchildren succeed brought him joy, and it was clear his work ethic, dedication and drive had been passed on to later generations. Jerry truly loved his grandchildren and just seeing them compete in sports and succeed in all aspects of their lives made him the happiest grandfather ever.
Jerry impacted so many lives in so many ways that it could never possibly be quantified. The memory of his selflessness and love will far outweigh the pain of his loss, and that is exactly how he would want it. Jerry will be missed by so many for so many reasons but his legacy will forever live on and be seen in the way he made everyone smile.
Jerry is predeceased by his parents John and Marion (Jones) Burkhardt (1995 and 1981 respectively) and many other cherished relatives. He is survived by his wife Jean, daughter Jessica Brown and husband Aaron, son Jeffrey and wife Bridget, son Joel, grandchildren Tyler, Caleb and Issac Brown, Hunter, Elle, and Adeline Burkhardt, sister Barbara Swiderski, brothers Paul Burkhardt and wife Sherry, Jay Burkhardt and wife Kacy, as well as others he considered family including son Eric Shorey, wife Melody, and their two sons Matthew and John Mark, and grandchildren Meighan and Molly Strout.
A celebration of life service will be held at the Maine Maritime Museum, 243 Washington St Bath, Maine on August 16 from 11:00 am to 2:00pm and all are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers it is requested donations be made to the Maine Special Olympics or the Travis Mills Foundation, organizations Jerry loved and supported.