Read Gerald "Jerry" Ray Ayliffe's Obituary & Leave Condolences

In memory of

Gerald "Jerry" Ray Ayliffe

Citrus Heights, CA, USA

November 28, 1947 - March 1, 2021

Nov 28, 1947 - Mar 1, 2021

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In Loving Memory of
Gerald “Jerry” Ayliffe
November 28, 1947-March 1, 2021

I mourn the loss of my dearest whom I have known for over 25 years. Sharing time with Jerry was always an enlightening and fulfilling experience due to his prolific knowledge regarding specific details covering a panoply of topics.
He was cared for daily by Lena Card who was with him daily to devote herself to his well-being and infuse him with the love she felt for him until his final passage.
Michele Calderon, who cleaned his home, is also deeply affected by the loss of his life.
I know his passing would affect many of those he counted as friends. Unfortunately, there is no method of accessing them due to the Executor.
Jerry was an original Renaissance man. Nothing escaped his keen artistic perception. His innate curiosity of all visual perspectives lead to his desire to travel. He visited every state in the US and visited Europe for many memorable adventures. He observed all the distinct, idiosyncratic cultural traits that separated us, yet brought us together as human beings.
His perfectionism manifested itself through various creative mediums: superb photography, painting and videography. After years as the number one sales representative as a manufacturers’ representative selling musical equipment, his entrepreneurial spirit lead him to open A & M Productions. This venue allowed him to utilize his exceptional technical abilities fused with his immense creativity. He was super-intelligent.
One of his most memorable achievements was his assignment that entailed his professional participation with Robert and Magrit Mondavi at the inception of their winery in Napa, CA. His videography captured the iconic branding of Mondavi rivaling the French domains. This ushered the explosive success of Mondavi wines. He was an influential in the first outdoor musical venues; pairing the enjoyment of Mondavi wines and gourmet food choices for the outdoor picnics that attracted scores to the beginning of these events.
During the last six years of his life, I would visit him for our “movie” night. His choices were very eclectic and we discussed the nuances of the essence of these films. He taught me all about the technicalities that were part of the filmmaking process; lighting, sound, music copyrights, dialogue, green screen, cinematography, production, direction, etc. He enlightened me with his extensive knowledge of the process.
He loved music of all types and was the most gifted ballroom dancer I have ever encountered.
Another of his passions was for automobiles. He owned at least 25+ different vehicles during his life: Mercedes classic coupe, BMW Spyder, 65 Corvette in pristine condition. One of his favorite TV shows was Mecum Automobile Auctions that displayed a complete array of perfectly restored vehicles of every make and model, along with the bidding process for the transfer of these autos to new owners.
Jerry was a very sensitive being and his spiritual practices embraced Native American culture, along with the teachings of Buddhism. This sensitivity was counter- balanced by his extremely stubborn nature. He spent hours devising a solution to whatever problem presented itself. If he said he was right, there was no room for an alternative suggestion.
In closing, I choose to focus on the incredible human being Jerry was before the incapacitation by the extreme pain that robbed him of all the creative abilities he possessed. Vibrant, uber-intelligent, funny, and loving. There were so many individuals whose lives Jerry enriched.
I will miss him immensely, as will all those whose life he touched. He followed his heart and his logic, which were the true essence of his being. He lived his life to the fullest.

With deepest love and affection,
Jordi Wentz

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