Edward Hartley Ackley, 82, of Norwich, died peacefully at his home on Friday, August 30, 2016.
Born May 8, 1934, in Cortland, NY, Ed was the son of Hartley and Dorothy (Bowen) Ackley. Dorothy Ackley survives. Ed spent his childhood in Norwich and graduated from Norwich High School in 1953.
As a youth, Ed spent many hours playing sports for the “Y Reserves” at the Norwich YMCA. In high school, as a sophomore, he joined the varsity basketball team. Ed also excelled in track, and was an outstanding football player. In football, he was named captain in 1952, which was the first undefeated season in many years. He continued playing football at Syracuse University, and graduated from Syracuse in 1957. Ed was inducted into the Norwich Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011.
On June 21, 1958, Ed married his loving wife, Marylee Palmatier, at the Broad Street Methodist Church, in Norwich. They enjoyed 58 years together.
Immediately following his graduation from Syracuse, Ed went to work as a salesman for the Bennett-Ireland Co. He and Marylee lived in Maryland, then moved to Illinois where Ed worked as a national accounts manager. Ed also served as sales manager of the mid-Atlantic region. He and Marylee returned to Norwich in 1967 when Ed became the company’s national sales manager. In the mid-1970s, he became vice president of sales and marketing, and watched the company grow from a $2 million to a $22 million business. In 1984, after 26 years with Bennett-Ireland, the company was sold by John Turner to Harrison Edwards and then to the Sunbeam Corporation, after which time Ed retired from the company. He continued in the fireplace equipment field as an independent sales representative for several companies.
Bennett-Ireland meant so much to Ed that after his final retirement, he enjoyed searching the area for by-gone items to display that had been produced by the company for which he had worked so many years.
Ed always looked forward to sitting by a cozy fire, listening to music, and watching sports – especially Syracuse University teams, and the New York Yankees. A special place for Ed and his family was Gloucester, MA, where the family spent many happy vacations over the years.
In addition to his wife and mother, Ed is survived by two daughters, Julieanne Ackley Taylor and Lynnette Adams. Ed was so proud of them both. He is also survived by son-in-law Joey Adams; grandchildren Natalie Taylor, Zachary Taylor, Kali Adams, and Colling Adams; sister Joan Swertfager; and brother Clifford Ackley. He was predeceased by his sister, Cindy Iversen.
The family wishes to thank the physicians and nurses of Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, the Hospice & Palliative Care of Chenango County, and the compassionate nurses who supported Ed and his family during his final days at home.
Friends are invited to call at the Wilson Funeral Home on Tuesday, September 20, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., with a memorial service to follow with Rev. Nancy Hale, pastor, Broad Street Methodist Church, officiating. A private burial will take place at Mt. Hope Cemetery.
Contributions in Ed’s memory made be made to Hospice of Chenango County, 21 Hayes Street, Norwich, NY 13815, or the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance, 801 Roeder Road, Suite 750, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, or to a charity of one’s choice.
To leave the family a message of condolence, please visit the funeral home website at: www.wilsonfh.com.