Robert Gordon Akerley

Robert Gordon Akerley Jr., 44, of Charlotte, NC, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, June 13, 2020, surrounded by family and loved ones after a year-long battle with sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma.

Known to his friends as Rob, he was born in Bohemia, New York, to Robert & Judith Akerley on September 25, 1975. The family moved to Yarmouth, Maine, in his younger years and he graduated from Yarmouth High School in 1993 and from the University of Maine in 2000.

While at UMaine, Rob met his wife, Jennifer, in 1998 during a fraternity/sorority social event. They quickly fell in love and began a 22-year romance, which was focused on food, fun and friends. A rarity to most, Jenn was Rob’s first and only true love. Even into his last days, Rob lit up when Jenn spoke or entered the room. Rob was an excellent cook who enjoyed dining at the best restaurants and was happily on the hunt for the best steaks, burgers and Italian food. Jenn and Rob shared these passions, so when with them either at home or out at a restaurant it was always guaranteed to be the best food, company and beer.

Jenn & Rob were married on June 16, 2012, in South Portland, Maine, and relocated to Charlotte, NC, in 2015. Along the way, several dogs and cats made their way into their homes and hearts as they shared a love for animals.

While attending UMaine, Rob joined the Rho Rho chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, making friendships and an extended family that remained loyal to both he and Jenn through his final days. A contingent of those fraternity brothers remained in Charlotte after his passing to grieve and give assistance to the family.

Those that knew Rob will never forget him and those who paid tribute following his death were evidence that he made an impact on nearly everyone he spent time with. He never made any enemies, choosing to simply love and enjoy life with anyone who wanted to do the same.

There is one consistency mentioned first when sharing memories of Rob’s friendship: his laugh. He had many nicknames (“Smiley” being one of them), loved to have good times with friends, and could make you laugh with a random comment, text, or knowing smirk. We will all remember that smile and laugh in our hearts forever.

Rob loved traveling to warm tropical destinations as well as brewery-heavy regions of the country, often assembling a group of friends and acting as a de facto travel agent, finding the best places to visit and at the best price. He didn’t let the daily grind of life slow him down; it was always about where the next trip would be.

His main passion was music. Rob loved going to live shows anywhere and everywhere he could, taking in a wide variety of music but not straying too far from favorites like the Grateful Dead, The Black Crowes, JJ Grey & Mofro, Sturgill Simpson, and others. He loved discovering a good jam band – especially those with a horn section! He even taught himself how to play the bass guitar in college. Recently he decided to take on a new hobby and was enjoying his lessons and was learning to play both the electric and acoustic guitar. Some would even say he was starting to get “pretty good”.

Rob was also a massive sports fan. Even though he was a New York native, his friends still boast about how they converted him to a Boston Red Sox fan after unrelenting pressure. Although, they truly cannot take all the credit as his New York born and raised mother became a convert as well – so much so that in her final moments Rob made sure the Red Sox were on the tv so she could listen! While he loved complaining about the Red Sox, the Bruins were his passion, continuing a love affair of hockey that started while at the University of Maine -- another thing he and Jenn shared.

He worked for IKON Office Solutions after graduating and remained loyal to the company for 20 years in various sales positions, even after its acquisition by Ricoh USA in 2008.

Rob is preceded in death by his parents, Robert “Bob” aka “Delta” Akerley, Sr. and Judith “JR” Akerley. Rob is survived by his wife, Jennifer Nelson; his brother and niece, Jeff & Paisley Akerley (Raymond, Maine); parents-in-law, Tom & Barbara Nelson (South Portland, Maine); sister-in-law, Heather Nelson Hill and her husband Adrian Hill (Grand Prairie, TX); sister-in-law and nephew, Wendy & Jalen Diffin (Mooresville, NC & South Portland, ME); his Aunts & Uncles, Betty & David Woodbury (Somerset, NJ); and Marion & John Lyon (Hillsborough, NC); his Cousins Scott & Melissa Woodbury, Sara Woodbury & Bob Ganse, Alison & Eli Rodriquez; and Todd Lyon & Mark Miller and his extended nieces and nephews as Rob was known us Uncle Rob or Uncle Coach to so many of his friends children, all of whom he loved spending time with.

There will be two services celebrating Rob’s life. The first will be in Charlotte on Saturday, July 4th, at 2pm at he and Jenn’s home at 6744 Wheeler Drive, Charlotte, NC, 28211. Please come only if you are feeling well and are comfortable in doing so as we understand there are many who prefer to stay home during these times. Please bring and wear a mask or one will be provided if you do not have one. Also, please wear your best pool/tropical attire in the brightest colors you have. This is a celebration to remember Rob in the way he would want – with a party!

The second service will be in Maine on Saturday, August 22nd, at the home of Steve & Bette Milley, 12 Fisherman’s Lane, Raymond, ME 04071. More details will be shared at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to one of three organizations:

● American Cancer Society, 1901 Brunswick Avenue, Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28207

● Greater Charlotte SPCA, P.O. Box 77491, Charlotte, NC 28271

● The Jimmy Fund | Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215

Rob’s family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Asim Amin, MD, PhD and Marina Kanos, NP at Atrium Health’s Levine Cancer Institute (LCI) for the amount of time and energy put into Rob’s care over the last year. Visits at LCI were much more than just a doctor visit. Additional gratitude goes out to Nizar Tannir, MD, FACP at the MD Anderson Cancer Center for his additional consultations and support.

If you are in need of any additional information or details surrounding the celebrations of life or wish to share your condolences, please do so on his Facebook page or by emailing [email protected].