Graham Bernard Ackery

At age 92, Graham passed away peacefully in his sleep at Friendship Village of Dublin, Ohio. He was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Gillian, and is survived by his two sons, Mark (Helen) and Pete (Linda), as well as his cousin Margaret Christian. He will also be missed by his wife’s sister-in-law, Jayne Abraham, and her two adult sons and their families.

Graham was an Englishman and a gentleman. Born in Bristol, he grew up in Hayes, Middlesex County, in the outskirts of London, the only child of his parents Elsie and Bert. He performed his mandatory national service in the Royal Air Force from 1950 to 1952 and endured the hardships of post-war rationing. Still, his family enjoyed a comfortable middle-class life and supported him in securing a position at a prestigious accounting firm in London. He started as a “tea boy” while he earned his qualifications as a chartered accountant and quickly rose through the ranks, ultimately becoming an international partner who oversaw mergers and acquisitions all over the world. His firm was Kidsons Impey, which enjoyed such a sterling reputation that it was honored by Queen Elizabeth II, whom Graham met in person.

In their early twenties, Graham and Jill met on the train one day and he couldn’t resist her beaming smile. During their courtship, he would walk miles through the notorious London fog to visit her. They married in 1958 and lived first in Hillingdon and later Gerrard’s Cross — the latter a splendid suburban spot with a convenient train line into London. Jill was a fine cook and kept a spotless home despite their two rambunctious sons.

After his retirement, Graham and Jill left the London suburbs to move to Storrington, West Sussex. Meanwhile, their son Mark had moved to the United States to marry Helen, ultimately settling in Columbus, Ohio. In 2007, in their seventies, Graham and Jill made the bold decision to emigrate to the U.S., where they lived in Powell, Ohio, and made many new friends. After about 10 years, the pair decided to move into Friendship Village, but unfortunately Jill passed away shortly before the move. Though grieving, Graham dived into life there and joined a few committees. Soon the list of friends was growing, and Graham enjoyed his community very much. He took up breadmaking as a hobby, the latest on a long list of pursuits over the years, including golf (at which he was very good), fishing, gardening and teaching himself to play the organ.

His sons want to express their gratitude for the many friends he made at Friendship Village. We are especially grateful for the fond companionship of Victoria Handshy, who added fresh laughter and richness to Graham’s final years. Graham will be missed by both family and friends, and Mark and Helen have been moved by the kind words so many have already shared. Pete and Linda will fly over from the UK for a memorial service in February, to be scheduled soon.