Biography: Kenneth Eugene Ackerman Sr. (Kenny) was born on September 21, 1944 in New York City, New York. He was the only child to the late Nathanial and Helen Ackerman. Kenny peacefully departed this earth to be with the Lord on January 10, 2020.
As a native New Yorker, he grew up in and loved Harlem which gave him a strong foundation. He gained his education in the NYC public school systems. He was active playing basketball with his lifelong friends Eddie Brandon and Butch Buggs growing up in the 1950s. During this time, he also met the love of his life Rosa Allen. Kenny moved with his mother to The Bronx in 1960 and was later drafted into the United States Army in 1965. He served proudly as a radio operator in war time Vietnam until he was honorably discharged in 1967.
Before going to Vietnam, Kenny married his life- long love, Rosa in December of 1965. This union saw the birth of Renee and Kenneth Jr.
After returning to the US, Kenny started his working career as a bulk sorter at the main US Post Office in Manhattan. After a few years, he obtained his commercial drivers license and began working as a bus operator for the New York City Transit Authority (MABSTOA) in 1972. He was dedicated and consistent for 34 years until his retirement in 2006. The 100th street bus depot was like a second home for him for several years. He was well known by his peers, well liked for his stories, and highly respected from other bus operators and dispatchers across the transit system.
Kenny had a lot of interests but he loved music. His taste ranged from Doo-Wop, to Gospel to R&B but he especially loved his Jazz. He would spend lots of time listening to Jazz while having something in hand to quench his thirst. He was an avid reader of books and daily news. He always liked to stay in the know and you would see a newspaper under his arm each day. During the times he was home he enjoyed cooking. His mac and cheese became legendary during the holidays. In addition, he had the recipe that he believed would cure any illness, “chicken feet soup”. He loved sports and was a very active football fan. He would look forward to watching college and pro games and talking about them during and after each good one.
While Kenny was full of life and activity, he understood the Lord as his savior. He always started his day with reflections, prayer and reading the bible. This provided him strength and kept him grounded and gave him inner peace. He was always a listener and wasn’t shy at times to share his thoughts on a topic. He had a gift of balancing his brand of tough love with word of encouragement and wisdom.
Kenny loved his family, loved his friends and now entrusts a legacy of love and caring for all who were blessed enough to know him. He leaves to cherish his memories his wife of 54 years, Rosa Ackerman, two children Renee Ackerman and Kenneth E. Ackerman Jr. (wife Remi), Grand-Daughters Khalilah Sterling, Jaylin Ackerman and Kennedy Ackerman, Half-Sister Amy Orukpete, God-Children Nikki Harris (husband Jeff) and Justin Brandon (wife Angela), Mia Miles, numerous cousins, a host of family and very dear friends.