Gerald John Ackley

Gerald John Ackley, 90

A lifelong educator, Gerald John Ackley, 90, of Lake Wales, Florida, formerly of Salamanca, N.Y., and Rockledge, Florida, died peacefully at his home on February 1, 2024,. following a short illness.

Mr. Ackley was born in Salamanca on October 24, 1933 to the late John and Helen (Daly) Ackley of Gowanda. He was a 1951 graduate of Gowanda Central High School, and earned his Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture at Cornell University in 1955. Following his graduation, he spent two years as an agriculture teacher at West Valley High School.

During this time, he was a member of the U.S. Army Reserves for six years, finishing his active duty service as a First Lieutenant. He earned his Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Columbia University in 1958, and then spent two years as a sixth grade teacher in the Gowanda school system.

He left the classroom in 1961 to become principal of the Prospect Elementary School in Salamanca, leading the move to the new school building that opened shortly thereafter.

He spent a total of 28 years in the Salamanca schools system, eventually moving on to serve as curriculum coordinator for the district, and finally as Superintendent for 13 years, retiring in 1989. He also served as an interim Superintendent of Schools in several Western New York districts in his retirement.

He was very active in numerous groups, many of the musical variety, including the Cornell University Glee Club, Killbuck Chorus and several barbershop quartets and choruses in his retirement years in Florida.  He was a member of the Salamanca United Methodist Church, and he also served a term as President of Section VI of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association in the early 1980s.

In addition to spending time with his family, he enjoyed sports, coached Little League baseball, hunting, playing bridge and golf.

He and his wife Joanne Campbell Ackley were married on Dec. 28, 1955, who survives. He is additionally survived by a son Brian (Lori) Ackley of Fort Meade, Florida, grandsons Evan (Kelly) Ackley of Palm Coast, Florida, Aaron (Maria) Ackley of Sanford, North Carolina, a great-grandson, Beau Gerald Ackley, also of Sanford, and a daughter-in-law Linda Ackley of Palm Coast.  He is also survived by three brothers – James, Harry and Douglas -- and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased on August 26, 2023 by his son, Alan.

Services will be made with O’Rourke and O’Rourke Funeral Home in Salamanca, New York with celebration of life planned at a later time at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, donations will gratefully be accepted to the Salamanca school's Gerald J. Ackley Memorial Scholarship Fund. Please send donations to: Salamanca Central Schools, Attention: Karen Crandall, Business office, 50 Iroquois Drive, Salamanca, New York 14779. Checks can be made out to the Salamaca Central School District with a notation that it is for the Ackley scholarship fund. A scholarship in his honor has been awarded annually, since 1991, to a Salamanca graduate planning  a career in education..