Obituary

Kenneth E. Ackley, senior lecturer in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and a member of the Cornell Class of 1960, died at his home in Pittsford, N.Y., Oct. 7. He was 65.

Ackley's career focused on extruded and molded plastic manufacturing operations with Union Carbide, Vogt Manufacturing, N.A. Taylor, Allied Chemical and Mobil Chemical before he founded his own business, Innovation Packaging, in 1974 in Rochester, N.Y. For 20 years the company developed and manufactured specialized retail and industrial flexible packing products.

A 1956 graduate of Ithaca High School, he was awarded a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering and a master's degree, in 1966, in engineering from Cornell.

Ackley returned to Cornell in 1995 to become a visiting lecturer in chemical process design. A year later he became a senior lecturer in chemical engineering. The senior capstone courses that he coordinated -- unit operations and plant design -- taught students to solve real-world problems and solidified four years of engineering curriculum. In addition, he developed and taught chemical engineering units and equipment, managing chemical processing design and finance for engineers. The establishment of the Class of '60 Computer Instructional Facility in the School of Chemical Engineering was largely due to his efforts.

The university recognized Ackley's dedication and service to Cornell, both as a mentor and for encouraging excellence, awarding him the 2000 Frank H.T. Rhodes Exemplary Alumni Service Award. And in 1998 he was chosen to present the fourth Raymond G. Thorpe lecture in chemical engineering

He was involved in the Cornell University Council, the Cornell Alumni Association of Greater Rochester and the Cornell Class of 1960. He was a frequent speaker in the College of Engineering's manufacturing seminar.

The Unit Operations Laboratory in the east wing of Olin Hall is being named in his honor.

Ackley is survived by his wife, Miriam; son, David, of Gainesville, Va.; and daughter, Jennifer Bobalik, of Cologne, Germany.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory can be made to the Industrial Practitioner Program at Cornell, Paulette Clancy, director, School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 120 Olin Hall, Ithaca, N.Y. 14853, or the Pluta Cancer Center, 125 Redcreek Drive, Rochester, N.Y. 14623.

A reception to honor Ackley's memory will be held Saturday, Oct. 25, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the A.D. White House on campus.