Gerald F. “Jerry” Healy lived his life with a passion for people – from his infectious, inviting smile and enthusiastic conversation to serving individuals and communities with passionate enthusiasm.

Nowhere is this more evident than in Jerry’s consistent involvement with numerous charitable organizations across the commonwealth, particularly the Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation.

As a founding member of KLEMF, Jerry’s support and guidance as a member of the Legion of Highest Commendation and board of directors has been crucial to the success of the fund and the memorial itself.

As the owner of multiple McDonald’s franchises in central Kentucky, Jerry embraced the corporation’s philosophy of giving back to the community – whether in time, money or both – to say, “thank you.” When it came to law enforcement specifically, he understood the sacrifice that officers make every day to keep others safe.

Jerry, knowing that officers have given their lives and left grieving families behind, believed anything he could do for those families to soften or cushion the void left by their loved one’s sacrifice and to help them transition to life after their loss he needed to do – and did. Jerry was instrumental in starting the KLEMF college scholarship program in 2004 as another way to assist law enforcement families, especially fallen officer survivors, through the financial challenges associated with higher education.

KLEMF can think of no better way to honor Jerry’s memory than by memorializing his name on the scholarships he so enthusiastically championed.