Jerry L. Arnold

Jerry L. Arnold (March 11, 1947, St. Louis, Missouri-Feb. 11, San Luis Obispo, California).  Husband to Karen Clausen Arnold for 34 years, father to Scott (Lisa), Brent, Kelly and Matthew (Chrissy) Arnold. Grandfather to Noah, Shaine and Gigi Arnold.

 Jerry was a tenured, full professor in accounting at the University of Southern California for 37 years, and was recognized as a world-renowned expert on the Securities and Exchange Commission and its financial reporting requirements.

A sought-after speaker and consultant, Jerry was an international forensic accounting expert witness in some of the most high-profile legal cases of the last 25 years. A graduate of the University of Missouri (BS and MA), Jerry was most proud of his Ph.D. in accounting from the University of Michigan and was a loyal Wolverine fan.

 Jerry was particularly known as a selfless, self-deprecating charmer who owned any room he walked into and a friend to everyone.  When not cheering on The Big House, he was an avid Laker season ticket holder and followed the team with an annual father-son road trip for the past 20 years.

 A 23-year resident of Pacific Palisades, Jerry loved his community. As a strong father figure and mentor to several of his children’s friends during their high school and college days, Jerry stressed education and hard work as the key to success in personal, work and family life.

He was never too busy to drop anything he was doing to be there for his family, friends and students. A devoted and loving husband, Jerry, with Karen, unconditionally committed their lives to Scott, 43, and their 26-year-old triplets, Brent, Kelly and Matthew, being very proud of each one’s individual hard work and personal success.

 Jerry will be remembered as an example of a real man—selfless in all that he did.

He will be dearly missed by his family, friends, former colleagues, and the hundreds of students and accounting professionals he taught over the past 45 years.  There will never be another one like him.