Barbara Ann Ackerman
Barbara Ann Ackerman of Hamden died on Friday, August 17, 2007. Born at Fort Hood, Texas December 22, 1949, Barbara was preceded in death by her father John Redmon. Survived by mother, Roberta Redmon, a brother, Jack Redmon, a son, Richard Ackerman, a daughter, Jennifer Hardik and grandsons, Hunter, Carson and Brayden Hardik. A graduate of Harrisburg Polyclinic Hospital School of Nursing, she had been an RN at Yale New Haven Hospital for 30 years. Her most recent accomplishment was the Nightingale 2007-Award for excellence in Nursing. Barbara was a member of Christ Lutheran Church. Friends and family may visit with Barbara's family at Christ Lutheran Church, 600 Shepard Ave., Hamden on Friday, Aug. 24 from 6 - 7 p.m. A memorial service will follow at 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers please make all monetary donations to Newborn Special Care Unit, Lactation Program 4WP, Yale New Haven Children's Hospital, 20 York St., New Haven, CT 06504. Arrangements in care of BEECHER & BENNETT, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden.
Barbara was a beacon of light for countless breastfeeding mothers and their babies over many years. As a La Leche League Leader in the New Haven area, I always knew I could count on her knowledge and support to help the mothers and babies at Yale-New Haven Hospital’s NICU. She will be deeply missed. My sincere sympathy. Anne Murphy
Dear Jen, Ricky and the whole family, Barb and I just want to say how very sorry we are. Your Mom was one of the finest and most dedicated nurses that we have ever had the privilege to work with and she will be sorely missed. We know that she would have been so proud of all of you and how you were able to cope with it all. She loved her family and all her grandsons with all her heart. Please take care. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Love, Connie(Hanrahan) and Barbara (Smith(
I am a pediatric nurse at Yale and have learned so much over the years from Barb. We used to call her to come up to the Infant-Toddler Unit to help us with our breast-feeding moms and she was always so helpful both to the staff and especially to the new moms. She was a very special lady. My condolences. Marty Cavalier
I am so sorry to hear of Barb’s passing. I am a pediatric nurse practitioner here in New Haven. In Oct ’05 I had twins who were born 2 months premature. Barb was such a essential support to me as I learned how to breast feed my babies, both because they were born early and because there were two of them. I successfully fed them both and I have Barb to thank for that. She made a large impact in my life and in the lives of my babies. I also sent many of my patients and friends to Barb for help with breastfeeding. She was greatly appreciated and will be greatly missed.
I wish we had more time one more slice of pizza one more beer one more kiss this isnt fair I’l miss you and never forget you till i see you again my good friend love george
I would like to express my condolences to the family and also our family at ynhh NBSCU our family circle has also been broken an angel going to be with angels I would truly like to thank God for having the pleasure to have met a beautiful person like Barbara.To her Mother and Children she will never be forgotten in our hearts forever. We’ll miss you Barb
My heart goes out to each family member at this difficult time. I have 30 years of memories of Barb-all which bring a smile to my face. Her children and grandchildren were her happiness in life–I know how excited was about spending time with Jen’s family to help with the new baby. And she glowed with pride when she told me about Ricky attending the award dinner with her. She will be so dearly missed. My deepest sympathy to all, Jan Taft
My heart is heavy and my prayers are with Barbara’s family as I have heard of her passing while at the ILCA conference in San Diego. I often met Barbara here and deeply miss her laughter, friendship, personal and professional sharings. It is with great sadness and continued dis-belif that she is no longer with us. She will be deeply missed as a friend and a professional mentor. My prayers are with her family. I pray we all find God’s love and healing presence through these very difficult days. Love Mary
My husband and i were so heartbroken when we heard about Barbara’s passing. We no longer live in Hamden so we found out alittle after her passing. I just stumbled upon this memorial, i wanted so badly at the time to send my condolences but was not sure were to…Barb took good care of me and both my daughters (05/1999 & 11/2001) who were both born premature (she remembered us!). I will always be grateful to her for her patience, time, care & gentleness. She was indeed an angel to us all, still is, but now she’s one in heaven. God Bless the Ackerman family.
My prayers are with this family! Barb helped me when my twins were in the Newborn Special Care Unit at Yale New Haven Hospital in June 2007. She was so patient and kind in helping me with nursing issues. While I only met her once, she made a lasting impression and she helped a complete stranger in my time of need!
My thought and prayers are with Barb’s family. I will treasure my memories of the laughs, tears and struggles we shared as colleagues in the NBSCU. Your wonderful gifts will be sadly missed by so many moms in the future.
My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. This is a very sad time for you and for everyone at the Newborn Special Care Unit and in all of pediatrics at YNHH. Barbara was one of the best, brightest, and most innovative nurses that I have known in my 25 years at Yale. We will always remember her for the novel and efficacious ways in which she was able to support breastfeeding for Moms and infants. Please know that there are many nurses thinking and praying for you and your family. With deepest sympathy, Gina
My thoughts are with all of us who will miss Barb-family, friends, colleagues at Yale-New Haven and across the country. I already miss her smile and laugh, and I will forever miss her guidance as a giving mentor. Marie Pulito IBCLC
My thoughts are with Barbara’s family and colleagues. I have made many referrals to Barbara over the last few years by her reputation alone, and will miss having her as a resource! I never actually met her in person, but the women I sent to her always raved about her care and compassion. She will be sorely missed in the lactation community. –Liz Seaman, BSN, IBCLC, CCE, Bridgeport Hospital
My thoughts are with you all at this time. Barb will be greatly missed. — Ann Cowlin, childbirth educator, YNHH
To barbara’s family and friends, I returned from vacation to this sad news. I’ve known and worked with Barb for many years as an LC and LLL Leader.I’ve always been impressed with her dedication to families as she supported and protected breastfeeding in her special babies and her in her worksite. Judie Gubala
To Barbara’s Family, I want to extend my deepest sympathies. The right words are so hard to find, so I can only say I’m sorry. She spoke of all of you frequently and with such love. I feel blessed and honored both as a nurse and a person to have had the opportunity to know her. It is much too soon, but, Heaven has truly gained another Angel. Sincerely, Claudine Darby
To Barbara’s family: Words can not convey how much Barbara has impacted my life and so many others at Yale. I am a nurse at Yale (newborn special care) and now also an LC because of Barbara and Sharon at Yale. Barbara was a friend and a mentor. When I had my first son, Barbara helped me immensely both before and after his birth. I will never forget that. She was a very special woman and person. She had a wealth of knowledge and was always willing to help find an answer to a question. She had such a soothing way about her. She was a beautiful soul inside and out. I will miss her laughter and her smile. She will be missed by all. with deepest sympathy, Mary Blanchet
To Barb’s Family and Friends, The tears just flow as I think of Barb’s passing. Knowing her for the past 17 years was great and we have many great memories together as colleagues and friends. My thoughts and prayers to you and your family. Sharon
To Barb’s family, To me, Barb was a good friend as well as my mentor. She taught me so much about breastfeeding premature infants over the last ten years. I met Barb when she spoke at a conference in Orlando and, although she was presenting some very scientific data, heard how much she cared for her babies and mothers. She inspired another nurse and myself to develop a breastfeeding program for our own NICU. Over time, we were involved in projects together and became friends. Less than a week before she became ill, I had lunch with Barb and several others and we laughed and laughed. She looked great! I will miss her very much. You are all in my thoughts and prayers as you prepare to send her back to God. Maureen
To Ricky and Family, We were so sorry to hear of your loss. Deepest sympathies, thoughts and prayers. -Megan McKeon-Ulrich (HHS’92)
To the Ackerman family, Barbara was a terrific nurse who shared her compassion and expertise with us at Christ Lutheran as a Parish Nurse. She personally helped me with advice for my niece about breast-feeding .tricks.. A mutual friend who works in the pediatric department at Yale also spoke about calling on Barbara for special advice, often and with great success. I was in the pew in front of the woman who collapsed in church that Sunday, so I heard Barbara giving encouragement to the woman and orienting her when she came to. Barbara’s tone of voice and her choice of words, which could have been in a textbook about how to handle a medical emergency, actually reassured us all. She will be missed by all her friends at Christ Lutheran. Mary and Norman Thetford
Your mom was a wonderful person, and I was priviledged to have worked with her. Peg 203.688.9355