Gary Michael Ackerman

Gary Michael Ackerman, 79, died on February 8, 2022, at his home in Denver, Colorado, as his wife and son comforted him into peace. A loving husband, father, and grandfather, Gary is survived by his wife of 51 years, Maureen; his son, Daniel, and daughter-in-law, Kailee; and two  grandchildren, Hudson and Everly. 

Gary, the son of Edna and David Ackerman, was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Huntington and Lloyd Neck, Long Island. A graduate of the C. W. Post campus of Long Island University, where he earned B.A. and M.A. degrees, he was an English teacher in the Commack Public School District for over three decades, and was revered by his students for his playful sense of humor and engaging commitment to true education. He also coached cross country, instilling in his students the passion for running that he himself possessed, and modeling that passion by completing several marathons. A voracious reader, sports car enthusiast, and wine aficionado, Gary was widely known for his profound intelligence, deep insight, sharp wit, and an unfailing loyalty to L. L. Bean clothing. 

In his retirement years, Gary pursued his interests with single-minded dedication, never wavering from his running routine, delving into British naval history, and driving his many convertibles to the eastern tip of Long Island, where he relished seafood lunches at waterfront restaurants when he reached the island’s end. He graciously hosted family gatherings, gourmet dinner parties, annual summer lobster cookouts, and Valentine parties filled with poetry and music. “Good friends, good food, good wine, good music,” were words he lived by. He loved rock and roll and jazz, teaching himself guitar and, in later years, taking piano lessons. 

In 2017, Gary and Maureen moved to Denver to be close to their children and grandchildren, but his stories of life on Long Island endured. He liked living by the sea, he freely admitted. He was a sailor at heart. 

When asked not long ago what he considered the deepest fulfillment of his life, Gary answered without hesitation, “Loving and raising our son.”

A gathering to celebrate the life of Gary Ackerman will be held on Long Island in August.