The Entertainment Technology Center lost an exceptional friend and Hollywood a true tech visionary when Jerry Pierce passed away April 12. Jerry was a former senior vice president at Universal Studios where he helped guide the transition from film to digital cinema projection. He was instrumental in the advancement of key areas such as DVD, high definition, electronic sell through, and copy protection. Jerry was chairman of the Inter-Society Digital Cinema Forum (ISDCF), which he helped form in 2006, and technical advisor for the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO). He was also a powerful champion of ETC, serving as chair of our executive board 2003-2004.

As evident in the many tributes on LinkedIn, Jerry impacted numerous organizations and individuals and was greatly respected for his leadership, generous spirit, and kind character.

Left to right: Bob Kisor, Chuck Dages, Bob Lambert, Jerry Pierce,
and Edie Meadows in April 2007.

According to Ken Williams, ETC executive director and CEO, “Jerry was one of the true icons of our industry and influenced my decision to broaden my own professional career path beyond finance.”

“Jerry was a pioneer in elevating the role of technologist to the C-suite,” Ken noted. “The Hollywood studios owe him a significant debt for his leadership and mentoring. He will be missed. The media industry and ETC have lost one of our most respected elder statesmen and influential trailblazers.”

A celebration of life is scheduled for Thursday, May 28 in Los Angeles (RSVP required).

One of Jerry’s passions was photography, which he enjoyed combining with his love of hiking and sculling. Check out his website for a collection of compelling photos taken in Morocco, Patagonia, Yellowstone, Turkey, Yosemite, Alaska, and other locations.

Jerry’s family requests that you remember him “by walking in nature or planting trees in his honor.” For more information, Jerry’s obituary is available online.