After serving in the U.S. Army during WW2, Gerry attended Cornell Veterinary College. He graduated from Cornell in 1949. Soon after he started a veterinary practice in Allegany, NY. He was called back to active duty in August 1951 during the Korean Conflict. He attended the Army Food Inspection and Hygiene School and was assigned to Fort Slocum, New York as Post Veterinarian.
He was released from the Army in 1952 and returned to Olean, NY to establish his veterinary practice. He maintained the Olean Veterinary Clinic until 1966 when he left to participate in a post doctoral program at Cornell. He was awarded his Master of Science Degree in 1968. In 1968 he became a research scientist for the NY State Dept. of Health in Albany, NY