| Hello everyone, I have some very sad news to report. Our classmate, Joy Whiteley Ackerman, passed away unexpectedly at her home on September 21st.
I feel fortunate that Joy maintained ties with our class and I’m so glad she came to the last reunion and was able to spend time with everyone. She also recently participated in our Knit-A-Long and Virtual Book Club meetings, and it was so great to see her at these events.
Below is her obituary:
Publication: The Millbury-Sutton Chronicle
Date: 10/06/23
JOY ACKERMAN Joy W. (Whiteley) Ackerman, 68, of Keene, NH and formerly
of Sutton, MA, passed away unexpectedly at home on Thursday, September
21, 2023. She was born a daughter to Marilyn P. (Van Orden) and Roger
L. Whiteley on March 24, 1955, in Bethlehem, PA. Joy attended Saucon
Valley High School, graduating in 1973. Joy earned a BA in Geology at
Mount Holyoke College and an MS in Environmental Geology at Colorado
State University in Ft. Collins, CO. Joy continued her education at
Antioch University New England in Keene, earning her Ph.D. in
Environmental Studies. On October 29, 1979, Joy exchanged vows with
her high school sweetheart, Michael T. Ackerman. He predeceased her in
2011. Joy was fortunate enough to find love again. She married Richard
“Rick” S. McVoy on July 19, 2014. They had a beautiful service with
family and friends surrounding them at the St. John’s Episcopal Church
in Sutton, MA. Joy was employed by Antioch University New England,
Keene, NH, teaching Environmental Studies for 30 years until she
retired in 2019. She was awarded Professor Emeritus in 2020.
Previously, Joy worked for Interdisciplinary Environmental Planning
(IEP) in Keene. She always worked in Government and Private
Enterprises in Environmental Affairs. Joy loved spending time with her
grandchildren, helping with their care. She spent hours in the garden,
cooking, and canning. She and Rick enjoyed hiking, kayaking, biking,
and walking their dog. She was a member of St. James Episcopal Church
in Keene, the Order of Julian of Norwich, the Thoreau Society, the NH
Master Gardeners, and Petersham Curling Club. Dr. Ackerman is survived
by her parents, Marilyn, and Roger Whiteley of Bethlehem; her husband,
Rick McVoy of Keene; her two children, Mary E. Maloney and her
husband, Nick of Cranston, RI; Rachel A. Ackerman and her husband,
Michael Bailey of N. Smithfield, RI; her two stepsons, Christopher A.
McVoy of Shirley, NY; and Jeffrey M. McVoy and his wife, Chelsea of
Ashburnham, MA. She is also survived by her three siblings, Jon L.
Whiteley and his wife, Denise Kassebaum of Denver, CO; Joanne “Jody”
L. Burtner and her husband, John of Sylva, NC; Jeffrey L. Whiteley and
his wife, Denice of Perkasie, PA; her six grandchildren, Spencer
McVoy, Aaron McVoy, Sydney McVoy, Henry Bailey, Theodore “Teddy”
Bailey, Gryfinn “Finn” Maloney; along with many cousins, nieces,
nephews, extended family and friends.
Memorial donations can be made
to: St. James Episcopal Church (44 West St., Keene, NH 03431), Order
of Julian of Norwich (W704 Alft Rd., White Lake, WI 54491), or Society
of St. John the Evangelist (980 Memorial Dr., Cambridge, MA 02138. As
a way of helping heal the grief the family asks that you write down
stories of how Joy was part of your life. They may be sent via email
to: clanmcvoy@gmail.com. Services will be announced online at a later
date. All services are under the care of Cheshire Family Funeral
Chapel and Crematories, 44 Maple Ave. Keene, NH. 03431.
www.cheshirefamilyfh.com. |
