JEROME ACKERMAN

1921 - 2021

Jerome Ackerman  
1921-2021  Jerome Ackerman passed away at age 100 from natural causes on December 8, 2021. Jerry, the youngest of three, was born and raised in New York City, NY. After high school he attended the City College of New York, but his patriotic spirit drew him to join the war effort at a military aircraft manufacturing plant in Tarrytown, New York. That experience sparked the beginning of his interest in labor relations. After the war, he obtained his B.S. degree from the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, receiving the Daniel Alpern Memorial Prize for scholarship and leadership and graduating in 1948. He then went on to matriculate at Harvard Law School and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1951.From 1951-1987, he practiced law and became a partner at Covington & Burling where he specialized in employment law, energy regulatory laws and contracts. During the 1960s, he was an active member of the Bar Association of the District of Columbia and at one point served as chairman of its Legal Ethics Committee. After retiring from Covington & Burling, he was nominated to, and accepted by, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to serve as a judge on the United Nations Administrative Tribunal 1987-1995. For several years, he served as President of that Tribunal. In 1999 he was appointed Chairman of a UN group which was tasked with reviewing the functioning of the International War Crimes Tribunals for both Yugoslavia and Rwanda. Also at the request of the UN, in 2006 he conducted an investigation of a former UN Inspector General. He traveled to American Samoa in his role as Chairman of a U.S. Department of Labor Special Industry Committee, tasked with reviewing a minimum wage for that territory.In keeping with his strong interest in arbitration, he served as an arbitrator both for the American Arbitration Association and for the UN. For a time he volunteered as a mediator for the U.S. District Court in Washington, DC. In addition to an endless passion for his work, Jerry treasured the summers he spent in Maine as well as visits with his beloved sister Lilyan. Jerry's survivors include his three children: Katherine Ackerman M.D., Paul Ackerman, Anne Kolkin; and three step children. He also leaves six grandchildren: Zachary Kolkin, Elliot Pennington, Alice Ackerman, Gillian Pennington, Nicholas Kolkin, and Daniel Ackerman; as well as three great grandchildren. His second wife Claire Ackerman predeceased him. His first marriage to the late Dorothy Shorb Ackerman ended in divorce. Gifts in his memory can be directed to The American Red Cross, The Jewish Social Service Agency, The Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, or a charity of your choice. At his request, no funeral will be held.