Visitation
Obituary of Dr. Sigurd Ackerman
Dr. Sigurd Ackerman, a distinguished figure in the practice of psychiatry and the former President and Medical Director of Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, CT, died last Thursday by the side of his wife of 42 years, Cece. He was 84.
Born on February 25, 1940 in Millville, NJ, he was the son of Ethel and William Ackerman. He attended Harvard College and was an honors graduate in 1962. Shortly after receiving his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine in 1966, he served as a captain in the Air Force at Fort Dix. While later training in psychiatry at Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Dr. Ackerman received numerous awards and federal funding for his decade-long research on the effects of early maternal separation.
After working in the Westchester Division of New York Hospital as their Chief of Mood Disorders and Eating Disorders, he joined St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City in 1989. Initially serving as Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry, he became President & CEO in 1998.
Dr. Ackerman’s most prolific impact professionally came as President & Medical Director of Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, CT. He joined in 2003 and remained in that role until his retirement in 2018. After he retired, he was named President Emeritus and the new admissions building was named the Sigurd Ackerman MD Center for Evaluation & Admission.
Outside of his work, Dr. Ackerman was passionate about sailing and loved embarking on lengthy trips around New England. He also developed a late-in-life hobby of riding motorcycles and could frequently be found riding along rural roads throughout Connecticut. Dr. Ackerman also enjoyed classical music, windsurfing, reading history books, watching sports and spending time with his family.
He is survived by his wife, Dr. Cece McCarton; sister, Barbara Leish; three children; Elizabeth Valins, Rebecca Antista and McCarton Ackerman; two stepchildren, Sara Daum and Michael Daum; and eight grandchildren.
A remembrance gathering will be open to the public on Saturday, September 28 from 12:00-2:00pm at Hoyt Funeral Home in New Canaan. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Those who cannot attend but wish to express their memories or condolences can e-mail sigurdmemories@gmail.com
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