Richard Ferrin Ackermann, 76, of Cobalt, passed away on Friday, (February 23, 2007). Richard was born in Somerville, MA on November 29, 1930 to Bertram and Mary (Ferrin) Ackermann. He is survived by two younger brothers, Phillip and Peter; and a son, Paul Richard and his wife Andrea; and granddaughter, Katherine. He was predeceased by his young daughter, Sara Lynn, and his wife of 48 years, May (Waldie) Ackermann. Richard, or Dick, to friends, graduated from Westfield High School in Westfield, MA in 1949. He served in the Massachusetts Army National Guard, Co. H, 104th Inf. Regt., 26th Division, from 1947 to 1951 and enlisted in the United States Air Force from 1951 to 1955 during which time he performed the majority of his service in Okinawa, Japan. Following his marriage to May Waldie of Bloomfield, in 1957 he enrolled in Northland College in Ashland, WI, graduating with a BA degree in 1960. Following graduation Richard and May moved to Connecticut where he began a 32 year career as a middle school level math teacher in Berlin Public Schools, retiring in 1992. It was during his tenure as a teacher that Richard received his MS degree from St. Joseph's College in West Hartford in 1979. At the time of his passing Richard was very active as a volunteer with several Connecticut-area Alzheimer's groups. He was a member of the Yankee Division Veterans Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Company of Fifers and Drummers, the Moodus Drum and Fife Corps, the Brigade of the American Revolution, and the Finish American Heritage Society. He was also a member of Anchor Lodge No. 112, AF&AM. A press photographer for the Ashland Daily Press and the US Air Force in the 1950's, Richard recently returned to his life long interest in photography under the name of Ackermann Graphics with his images published in numerous newsletters, area exhibits and the Middletown Press newspaper. He attended the First Church of Christ, Congregational of East Haddam. A memorial service and celebration of Richard's life will be held Saturday, March 31, 1 p.m. at Spencer Funeral Home, 112 Main St., East Hampton. The burial of Richard's cremains will follow in Union Hill Cemetery, Middle Haddam. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in May Ackermann's name to The Alzheimer's Association, 279 New Britain Rd, Kensington, CT 06037.


Published in The Hartford Courant; 10 Mar. 2007.