 He died on March 18, 2015 at the age of 85.Among his survivors are sons Jimmy and Steven, who are also thoroughbred trainers, son Allen and daughter Julie.In 2017 the New York Racing Association renamed the King's Bishop Stakes for Jerkens, who himself trained King's Bishop to wins in the 1973 Carter Handicap and Fall Highweight Handicap for Allaire du Pont.