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Rusty Ackerman Obituary

RUSTY ACKERMAN FORMERLY OF HAMMOND, IN Rusty Ackerman, 46, former Hammond resident, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday afternoon, October 2, 2011. Rusty, named from the flock of bright, red hair, was born on October 26, 1964, in Cleveland, OH, one of five children to Patrick and Joanne Ackerman. At 18 months, it was discovered that Rusty was deaf. His world had changed. Rusty was a fighter, though. Different from his siblings due to his deafness, he was determined to make the most of his life. Not only was he deaf, he also lacked the ability to smell. His teenage years proved to be problematic, so, he left home and wound up in Brandon, FL, at the Providence Christian School. There he excelled, even playing on the school's football team. After graduating from high school, he attended chef school and became a certified chef. He landed a job at Disney World in Orlando as a chef, then on a cruise line, and at a Hyatt hotel. He even drove race cars until they discovered he was deaf. Later he moved to Pinellas County and was hired as a chef for the famed Safety Harbor Spa and Resort. Along with his love of food and being a chef, Rusty developed into a strong advocate for the deaf. He was a member of advocate groups for the deaf, demanding that sign language interpreters be present for police stops, doctor visits, meetings, and hospital ER's. He was a regular member of the Florida Association of the Deaf. In 2000, Rusty was given an award for helping hearing impaired individuals, the Alternative Vocational Training Program. In 2004, Rusty, became blind as a result of the negligence of others and retained Tampa trial attorney, Ken Dandar, to bring those responsible to justice under the ADA. After that matter was settled, Ken kept helping Rusty over many years as he struggled in his new world of being deaf and blind until his death on October 2, 2011. His decade's long certified sign language interpreter and friend, Linda Losacano, maintained Rusty's ability to communicate by using tactile interpretation, placing her hands into his while signing. He then attended the Helen Keller Institute in New York. He was a regular patron at the Safety Harbor Public Library where he started a program for the deaf and enjoyed interaction with other deaf adults through the programs headed by Rosa Rodriquez. Rusty always knew the law when it came to deaf communications and certified interpreters. He became an advocate for the deaf and blind. He was a very intelligent and humorous independent man who now can enjoy life, eternal life, with no limitations in that very special place his Saviour built for him. Rusty is survived by his mother, Joanne Ackerman- Wiberg; brothers: Ronald Paul Ackerman and Randy Howard Ackerman; and sisters: Susan Ackerman-Strosinski, and Sarah Ann Ackerman. Family will receive guests Thursday, October 13, 2011 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Memory Lane Memorial Park and Funeral Chapel, 6305 W. Lincoln Highway (US 30), Crown Point, IN. The memorial service will be held at 7:00 p.m. that evening in the funeral chapel.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Times on Oct. 12, 2011.

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Tom Holford

May 13, 2022

I remember Rusty and his family. Thank God for Heaven. May God bless his family and give them great grace today and always.

Janet Thomas

October 20, 2011

I always fond memories of Rusty since I first time met him in 1985 ish. he will be missed...I was glad he was my friend. I never forget him.. God bless Rusty... Rest in peace!

James Feldmann

October 14, 2011

Rusty will be sorely missed and is defintely someone to look up to when it comes to advocacy for the Deaf and Deaf-Blind individuals. You think of Rusty when you see the word "advocacy"! God bless his soul.

Crystal Wilson

October 13, 2011

May the fond memories of a life lived to the full be of comfort to you all throughout your grieving process and may the GOD of all comfort be with all of you.2Cor.1:3,4

Dianna A.

October 12, 2011

What a beautiful obituary. There are truly no limitaions, as Rusty proved here, that he could do ALL things through Christ that strengthened him! Beautiful that he is in peace and one day you will see him again!

Cindy Wilson

October 12, 2011

Wow!!!! What an amazing man!! It really makes you think about those of us who have little aches and pains with our constant complaining, and what this amazing person did. "Wow" is all I can say about this man. I too wish I would have known him.

Sue Minton-Alexander

October 12, 2011

Joanne: I remember Rusty when you were here in Hammond. God Bless you.

Patti

October 12, 2011

I didn't know Rusty but wish I had. He sounds like such an amazing young man who accomplished so much in 46 short years....and with physical challenges to boot. He obviously touched a lot of lives and thus his spirit will live on. The obituary was very inspirational and I thank you. You were all blessed to have Rusty in your lives. Please accept my condolences for your loss. God Bless.

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