A friend and colleague of mine, Jerry Nachtigal, passed away on Easter Sunday from cancer. Jerry was Sr. Vice President of Public Affairs at Citibank and was committed to making Sioux Falls a better place to live. He was only 57 years old. It’s a huge loss for his wife and kids, his friends, co-workers and all of Sioux Falls.
I got to know Jerry while working together to fundraise for a community indoor tennis center. When Jerry joined our team, we breathed a collective a sigh of relief and knew that we would be successful with his help. After this campaign ended, I interacted with Jerry many times about my effort to bring a place for out-of-town cancer patients to stay to Sioux Falls. He was an important source of advice, encouragement and support. He wanted to be a part of our effort in the future.

Jerry speaking at the grand opening of Huether Family Match Pointe in 2015.
While I wasn’t part of Jerry’s inner circle, he meant a great deal to me. As I’ve been thinking about him the last few days, I realize that I learned a lot from him. Here are some of the things that Jerry taught me:
- Give a nervous person a big hug. Last December, I was giving an important presentation to an important committee. In some ways, it was a make-or-break event and I was painfully nervous. As I stood at the front of the room, waiting for things to begin, Jerry breezed in at the last minute, saw me and gave me a big hug and a wide smile. He was recovering from chemo and his hair was starting to grow in. He looked good. It was one of the warmest greetings I’ve ever received and his timing was perfect.
- Take the high road. In the fundraising world, there are many accomplishments as well as some disappointments. I remember that after courting a major donor for several years, the donor had decided to not make a gift of any size. As we discussed this surprising turn of events, Jerry took it in stride and said something respectful about the donor. We were all disappointed, but Jerry found a way to acknowledge the setback, set it aside and helped us all move on with a good attitude.
- Be open about your challenges. Jerry was open about his cancer. The presentation last December was about Hope Lodge, a place where out-of-town cancer patients can stay while receiving treatment. During introductions, Jerry gave the room an alive smile and began his by saying, “I’m the cancer survivor in this room…” Most of us knew he had cancer. But by being open about his condition, it helped us all. We could relax and acknowledge that the topic we were going to be discussing (cancer) was affecting one of our own.
- Keep your sense of humor. A consultant friend and I had lunch with Jerry last year, days before he was going to have surgery to remove a blockage in his kidney. At this time, nobody knew that the blockage was cancer. As he got up to leave the restaurant booth, he winced in pain and said something about getting old was not easy. We chuckled about it and told him that he wasn’t old. None of us knew that he was about to embark on a hard journey.
- Help, if you can. Last Fall, I asked Jerry to be part of the leadership team for Hope Lodge. He asked a lot of insightful questions; he wasn’t going to jump into a project blindly. A few days later, he sent an email that started out, “Of course, I’m in.” Of course he was. That was Jerry – willing to help whenever and however possible, if he could.
Jerry was a prince of a man. I was on the periphery of his life and he still made a big impact on me. In fact, this week, when faced with a couple of different challenges, the first thing I thought of was, “What would Jerry do?” Asking that question made it easy to know how to respond. Jerry would take it in stride and handle it with kindness and humor.
I want to be like Jerry. I think we all do.
May he rest in peace. And may his wife, kids, family and friends find some comfort during their grieving. It’s a heartbreaking loss.
Thank you, Jerry.

Jerry was instrumental in the naming of the center court at HFMP, the Citi Court.
30 Comments
Thank you for your beautiful tribute to my brother. You said it all.
You’re welcome. I was blessed to have known him. I’m so very, very sorry for your loss.
I want to be like Jerry, too! He has been an inspiration to me along the way! Jerry was one of the good guys!
Very beautiful tribute to Jerry with whom I worked in the Governor’s office. The irks would be a better place if we could all be more like Jerry
Yes, the world would be a better place if we could all be more like Jerry.
Meant “world” not “irks”.
it sounds like he was a wonderful and compassionate person. may the memories of beautiful times in your lives last forever.
You captured the very essence of my good friend, Jerry. Well done and thank you.
I’m so glad. Thank you for reading.
Jerry was my cousin and your words about him are beautiful and comforting. We should all try to be more like Jerry.
I’m glad they could bring you some comfort, in a time when that’s hard to find. I’m very sorry for your loss. You had a wonderful cousin.
Beautifully said, Jennifer. And inspirational! I was on Jerry’s periphery, too. And admired and respected him so much, as well. He’s touched lives his family will never know about. I hope his goodness will live on in us who Want To Be Like Jerry.
Amen.
Jennifer… I’m in tears reading this… in the short 5 years I have known him he has made a huge impact on so many people. I love your tribute as you so eloquently expressed some of the same things I am feeling. Thank you for putting it into words. He was good and faithful servant…well done Jerry.
Yes, he was a good and faithful servant. I’ve been in tears a lot this past week, like many of his friends and family.
Jennifer, you know I always read your blog and haven’t responded in the past but I want to thank you for your tribute to Jerry. You are right we all want to be like Jerry! Jerry was so instrumental in bringing the tennis center to Sioux Falls but he didn’t stop there. Every time I saw him he would ask what programs are we doing for the kids. He was always fighting for the under served and underprivileged. We will all miss Jerry greatly but his contributions to this community will go on for a very long time. Go Jacks!
I love it that he always asked about what programs were happening at the tennis center for kids. He cared! He will live on through his good works and the example he set for all of us.
I played football with Jerry at Brookings High School, where he graduated the year after I did. Everything you said about the way he was as an adult was already true of him in high school. You could not find a kinder, friendlier guy, or a better teammate.
That’s amazing – to be that good, even as a high school student, when many of us are not at our best? Thanks very much for sharing that.
A beautiful tribute- thanks for sharing
Thanks for reading, Anne.
Nancy,
My sympathy to you and your family. I never knew Jerry, but it sounds like he was a great guy. Memories of him will last forever.
He was a wonderful person. Thanks for reading.
What a lovely piece. Thank you for sharing!
Jerry lives on through each of us.
I have seen many of our Brookings classmates sharing many of the tributes- yours nails it too – I am sure that we are all being very reflective of the positive encouraging influence that Jerry has had in our lives. He leaves a legacy that will inspire us all to live up to his confidence in each of us. ???????? prayers of comfort, courage and strength to all of the family. Jerry made all of us feel like family. I want to be like Jerry along with you…
What an impressive man.
That was great Jennifer. So sad to lose him. My heart goes out to Ann and the kids.
Spot on; what a wonderful picture you have painted. He will be missed by many. Thanks for sharing!
What a beautiful tribute, Jennifer. We knew Jerry mostly through South Dakota State. I so enjoyed seeing Jerry and Ann at events, with smiles on their faces and warm greetings. And hugs. I am so grateful for having known such an amazing person. We will miss that guy.
Very thoughtful and kind tribute. Thanks for sharing.????