News

In Memoriam: Bob Ackman

First published in the Halifax Chronicle Herald:

Ackman, Robert George - O.C., PhD, 85 of Dartmouth, passed away Tuesday July 16, 2013 at Shannex Drummond Hall. Born in Dorchester NB, he was the son of the late Kenneth and Lottie Ackman.

Robert is survived by his wife, Catherine I. Ackman; daughters, Elizabeth K. (Daniel Maclean) Ackman, Toronto, Ont Margaret L. (Ross Tsuyuki) Ackman, Edmonton, Alb.; sister, Marian E. Macdonald, Toronto, Ont.; four grandchildren, Matthew, Charlotte, Midori and Michiko; four nieces and nephews.

Robert was a Canadian chemist and professor best known for his research in gas-liquid chromatography, marine oils and lipids, Omega-3 fatty acids, petroleum tainting, and fish and shellfish nutrition. He did pioneering work on lipid analytical chemistry, particularly in the capillary gas liquid chromatography (GLC) of fatty acids and the chemistry and biochemistry of marine lipids and developed a number of techniques to study and analyze marine oils that are now used worldwide. In recognition of these achievements, he was awarded the H.P. Kaufmann Memorial Lecture Medal given by the International Society for Fat Research in 1980 and the Supelco-American Oil Chemists' Society Award in 1994.

Roberts's education included a Bachelor of Arts in organic chemistry from the University of Toronto received in 1950, a Master of Science in organic chemistry from Dalhousie University received in 1952, a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of London (England) received in 1956, and a D.I.C. in organic chemistry from Imperial College London, England.

Dr. Ackman began his career in marine oils research in 1950 at the world-famous Halifax Laboratory of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, as a research chemist and in various administrative positions. In 1972, he was made a Fellow of the Chemical Institute of Canada. In 1979 he helped establish the Canadian Institute of Fisheries Technology and later the Department of Food Science and Technology at the Technical University of Nova Scotia (since April 1997 a part of Dalhousie University). From 1979 to 1995, he was a Professor with the Technical University of Nova Scotia and in 1995, he was appointed Professor Emeritus. He has edited the definitive book on "Marine Biogenic Lipids" for the CRC Press and has authored over 550 scientific papers.

In 2001, Robert was made an officer of the Order of Canada and received the Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.

Robert was a long standing member of Grace United Church, Dartmouth NS.

Visitation will be held from 2-4 p.m. Sunday July 21 at Atlantic Funeral Home, 771 Main St., Dartmouth, Nova Scotia where a funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday July 22. Rev. Fred Snyder officiating. Interment will follow in Dartmouth Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Grace United Church, Dartmouth: www.gracedartmouth.ca or a charity of your choice. On-line condolences may be sent by visiting: www.atlanticfuneralhomes.com