Guy Ackermann

Guy Thomas Ackermann, age 70, passed away on Friday, December 30, 2022, in the loving home of his eldest daughter in Santa Clarita, California, surrounded by his adoring daughters Laura Ackermann and Trisha Cupello (née Ackermann); beloved son-in-law Miguel Lopez; cherished granddaughter Cali Lopez; and his first love Joan Norbut (née Feller, Ackermann). Guy was born June 25, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois, where he resided until moving to California in fall 2022.

Guy always said that he had two great accomplishments in his life: first, his children Laura and Trisha, whom he loved fiercely in exactly the ways they each needed, in the ways only he knew how; and second, his career that he built with passion and determination over many decades.

As a father, Guy took pride in teaching his two daughters the value of hard work, integrity, humility, generosity, optimism, resilience, and love. He also took great pride in teaching them the art of fine dining including how to perfectly swirl a wine glass and to always tip at least 20 percent. For some reason, he also felt it important to teach his two little girls why you should bet the pass line, how point spreads work, and why you always bet the longshot. To his dismay, Guy tried unsuccessfully to make his daughters both tennis stars, but instead resigned himself to support their love of dance, which he jokingly referred to as "a cult."

His wisdom and many lessons were delivered by quotes such as "I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times" and shared through song lyrics such as Kenny Rogers' "The Gambler." His favorite reminders were that nothing is certain except death and taxes and that you can't have champagne taste on a beer budget. The many heartfelt conversations about life and love will live on through his daughters and their children.

As a CPA and retired partner of Plante and Moran, Guy's extensive professional expertise benefited his clientele in the disciplines of accounting, taxation, finance, and real estate for more than 40 years. Prior to joining Plante and Moran, Guy was one of two partners managing the Chicago office of Kenneth Leventhal & Company, a firm known nationally for representing real estate owners, real estate developers, and banks with complex tax, accounting, cash flow, valuation, and regulatory issues. Previously, Guy was a founding partner of Moss & Ackermann, a firm with expertise and high-profile clients in the real estate arena. Moss & Ackermann was sought after and acquired by Leventhal as part of their expansion into the Chicago market.

With extensive experience in restructuring real estate assets and companies with complex ownership structures, Guy was one of only a few professionals in the country that, in one assignment, restructured over $8 billion of real estate assets and mortgages involving more than 800 entities, 75 law firms, and utilizing 150 professionals over a one-year period. He was also likely the only boss whose staff serenaded him to "My Guy" at a company event.

While Guy's primary focus was public accounting, he also represented and advised the largest private homebuilder in Illinois. In addition, from 1998 through 2002, he redeveloped the historic Bismarck Hotel in downtown Chicago into the Hotel Allegro and Cadillac Palace Theatre, as well as constructed the 369-room Hilton Double Tree Hotel in Rosemont, Illinois.

In addition to the love of his family, career, coworkers, and friends, Guy's loves included: a lifetime passion for basketball that grew as he played for his beloved St. Benedict Bengals, receiving accolades and awards while serving as captain of the team, and continued with his Bulls fandom throughout their legacy era and his attendance at numerous NCAA and NBA Championships; a soft-spot for animals especially Reggie, Odie, Frida, and Chicken Noodle; and a fondness for Disney World, or was it really his love for his daughters, that made him the likely world record holder for most Disney World vacations, parades watched, monorail rides ridden, and autograph books purchased.

Guy was the loving father of Laura (Miguel) Ackermann and Trisha Cupello (nee Ackermann); revered grandfather of Kaden Cupello, McKenna Cupello and Cali Lopez; cherished brother of Allen (Kathy) Ackermann and the late John (Barb) Ackermann and Patricia Ackermann; devoted son of the late John and Sarah (née Cosgrove) Ackermann; beloved husband of Joan Norbut (née Feller, Ackermann) and the late Lee Ackermann; fond uncle; esteemed brother-in-law; cherished friend, colleague, advisor and confidant of many.

In lieu of flowers, please make any donations to PAWS Chicago. A celebration of Guy's life will be held on his birthday, June 25, 2023. Details will be forthcoming.