Jerry Denehy moved to Iowa City in 1968 and recently retired after fifty years of teaching and administration at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. Involvement with international dental graduate students provided him the opportunity to travel to many areas of the world where the environment has not been respected and has made him much more sensitive to the challenges we face here at home. Ever since his youth, he has had an interest in being outdoors and actively involved with nature. This was also fostered by twenty straight years of trips to the BWCA and Quetico wilderness with his son, areas which are currently threatened by outside interests.

Jerry recently completed the Master Naturalist program and has enjoyed his involvement with work at the Big Grove and other properties. His hobbies include most outside activities including bicycling, cross country skiing, photography, fishing and geocaching. His greatest concern is preserving nature so that future generations will be able to enjoy it like he has had the opportunity to. Hopefully, his involvement with Bur Oak Land Trust will help in achieving this.