ACKERMAN o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-07-21 published
HONE, McGregor
Husband, father, artist, teacher, activist, born February 7,
1920, died July 18, 2007. Mac lived his life with great passion,
sharing it with Beth, his wife and collaborator, for over 62 years.
While a private man, he made lasting Friendships easily. Known
for his razor-sharp wit, and wide knowledge, he could be relied
on to provide the right quote for every occasion. Mac earned
his B.A. and certificate of education at the University of Saskatchewan
in 1941. During the war, Mac welded Victory ships at North Vancouver
Shipyards. He and Beth were married in Nanaimo in 1944. He first
taught in Copper Mountain, British Columbia where Dave was born.
In 1947, the family moved to Regina and Mac began his long teaching
career at Central Collegiate. Shortly after, Jan was born. In
the mid 1950s he attended Emma Lake work shops organized by his
friend and teacher Ernie Lindner. In the late 1950s the family
travelled to Europe, where Mac studied at the Central School
of Arts and Crafts in London. They spent the summers travelling
across Europe in a Volkswagen van. In the 60's, Mac, Lloyd Blackman
and Jack Williams started Regina's first fine arts high school
program at Central Collegiate. Mac developed the visual arts
program from which many successful artists graduated. His exciting
classes drew students from across Regina, many of whom kept in
touch over the years. For them Mac was a mentor, encouraging
bot creativity and technique. Mac's involvement with the Saskatchewan
Teachers Federation included negotiating many improvements in
contracts for teachers and serving on the Executive. After his
retirement in 1979 he was active in the Superannuated Teachers
of Saskatchewan. Throughout his life, Mac painted, drew and made
prints. He and Beth travelled extensively. His travels and his
passion for history, literature, astronomy, entomology and philosophy
inspired his work, which has been shown in numerous galleries,
including the National Gallery of Canada, and is held in collections
across the country. For 68 consecutive years, Mac produced a
greeting card print, much anticipated by Friends, reflecting
a moment of the past year. Mac's painting 'By the Radio' (1950)
was the first work of art purchased by the Saskatchewan Arts
Board for its permanent collection. In 1995 the Board gave him
its Lifetime Award for Excellence in the Arts. A longtime Unitarian,
for many years Mac illustrated and produced 'The Chalice' newsletter
for the Regina Fellowship. Mac was predeceased by his daughter
Jan in 2004. He will be greatly missed by Beth, his loving wife
and best friend of 62 years, son Dave (Carol), son-in-law Jim
HALL, grandchildren Brenna (Ryan)
ACKERMAN and Will
HALL, great-grand_sons
Ethan and Avery McGregor
ACKERMAN.
The family thanks Doctor Doris
Logan and staff of the Regina Qu'Appelle Palliative Care Program,
especially the Home Health Aides whose care enabled Mac to remain
at home until his death. Special thanks to the many Friends and
neighbours who provided support to Mac and Beth during his illness,
particularly Bob and Sandy Johnson and Kathy Reimer. A celebration
of Mac's life will be held at 2: 30 p.m., Wednesday, July 25 at
Regina Apostolic Church, 808 Assiniboine Avenue East. Reception
to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Unitarian
Fellowship of Regina, Box 1591, Regina, Saskatchewan, S4P 3C4.
Garden flowers in vases are welcome at the memorial service.
An online book of condolences may be signed at www.speersfuneralchapel.com.
A... Names AC... Names ACK... Names Welcome Home
ACKERMAN o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-09-21 published
ACKERMAN,
Ralph
Leo
Farmer, builder, businessman, father, raconteur. Born April 5,
1926, in Belleville, Ontario Died August 2 in an accident on
his farm in Ameliasburgh Township, Prince Edward County, Ontario,
aged 81.
By Marianne
ACKERMAN,
Page
L10
My father was a man of aphorisms: The Lord helps those who help
themselves. Simpsons doesn't tell Eatons its business. You get
what you pay for. It's my way or the highway.
It might have been a talent developed of necessity. An only child,
Ralph ACKERMAN married an Irish Catholic, Sus
MURPHY, and had
six children in 12 years. His signature quips were certainly
an effective way into the flow of conversation.
Although his parents were dedicated farmers, he always claimed
he'd wanted to escape the land. But a few weeks before his wedding
in 1949 his father dropped dead, so the newlyweds carried on.
I can't remember a spring when Dad wasn't planting, or a fall
when he didn't agonize over slaughtering one of his prize Charolais
cattle. At the same time, he spent decades working shifts at
cement plants to support the family before finding his calling
as supervisor of maintenance at the Catholic school board.
Judging by the speed of his mental arithmetic and his penchant
for scratching figures on the backs of envelopes, he'd have enjoyed
business. Half a lifetime later, my mother pestered him to help
her launch a religious bookstore in Belleville. He said he was
looking forward to a quiet retirement and wanted no part. But
not long after, he cashed in his retirement savings to stock
The Icon's shelves.
Surely he owed the Lord. Our mother had made up her mind to enter
the convent when they met. She told us she was walking with a
girlfriend one night when a good-looking fellow slowed his car
and offered them a lift. The match sounded inevitable to me
as a teenager, I was convinced my father looked like Elvis.
Dad was an excellent storyteller, a powerful eater, a devoted
drinker and smoker. He usually went to bed after supper (especially
if he didn't like the crowd) and got up before dawn. When Mum
died in 1990, we calculated her waking hours and decided she'd
outlived him by a decade.
For a hard-living man, he was resilient. He survived an aneurysm
in his 70s and years of heart problems. Last winter a turkey
gored his hand; an angry cow nearly trampled him. While cutting
hay at the height of an August heat wave, he got down from the
tractor to fix something. The engine was off but it started to
roll, and he was caught under the wheel.
His instructions for the funeral: Keep it short. The last time
I saw Dad was an afternoon in March, at his favourite pub. He'd
just been to an old friend's funeral and was full of praise for
the eulogy given by the man's son. He needn't have worried. The
man of few words will have his echo.
Marianne ACKERMAN is Ralph's daughter.
A... Names AC... Names ACK... Names Welcome Home
ACKERMAN - All Categories in OGSPI
ACKMAN o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-08-10 published
ACKMAN,
Allan
Abraham
At the Saint_Joseph's Health Centre, Guelph on Wednesday, August
8, 2007. Allan Abraham
ACKMAN at the age of 85 years. Predeceased
by his wife, Dorothy. Allan was a well- known artist, served
with the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War 2 and was
formerly of Eden Mills.
A graveside interment service will be held in the Topaz Section
at Bathurst Lawn Memorial Park, Toronto on Friday, August 10
at 2: 00 p.m. Arrangements entrusted to Gilchrist Chapel - McIntyre and
Wilkie Funeral Home, One Delhi Street, Guelph (519.824.0031).
We invite you to leave your memories and donations online at:
www.gilchristchapel.com
A... Names AC... Names ACK... Names Welcome Home
ACKMAN - All Categories in OGSPI