Brian Akers

Akers, Brian Paul Brian Akers, age 64, died suddenly March 2, 2013, leaving behind his bereft wife of 20 years, Susan, best beloved golden retriever, Jupiter, and tolerably liked beagle, Matilda. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Brian was the only child of Paul and Alice Akers. After attending Kenyon College and Tufts Medical School, Brian established a two man medical practice in western Massachusetts. In his early 40s, Brian graduated from Stanford Law School and practiced patent litigation with Foley & Lardner from 1991 (where he met Susan) until retirement in 2009. For more than 20 years Brian was a volunteer teacher in the bioethics program at Medical College of Wisconsin. He took on additional teaching and lecturing opportunities in retirement. Unpretentious, occasionally irreverent, Brian lived a life of integrity and brought an intellectual rigor and humor to every endeavor. He held--and expressed--strong opinions. He loved being quantitative. Brian and Susan's laughter, wordplay and debate earned them the nickname "the happy couple" at several local establishments. Brian battled bladder cancer successfully 2 years ago partly because, as he put it, he feared being placed in the "placebo hospice" group if he worsened. Brian enjoyed aviation (instrument rated private pilot), atheism, bacon, bird watching, cold beer, music, drumming, calligraphy, caricature, cooking, the Packers, hiking and golfing with Susan, driving his Miata and reading history, biography, philosophy, poetry, ethics and jazz. Brian took up golf in recent years, memorized the rule book, and played not so good with an almost Sisyphean avidity. He personally explored every nuance of various out-of-bound rules situations and kept scrupulous score. Brian's greatest gifts to Susan were his boundless love, loyalty and support; ability to find and share humor in every nook and cranny of life; and his steadfast companionship. Brian is also survived by his mother, eight nieces and nephews, his wonderful Slovenian cousins, too many LaBuddes to count, and many dear friends. Special thanks to Drs. Betz and Gee for their care. Memorial tributes to the American Heart Association, any bladder cancer research group or Golden Retriever Rescue of Wisconsin. Memorial service at a later date.