Necrology

Keith Woodhull Acker '67

Jan. 16, 1946-Jul. 6, 2023

Keith Woodhull Acker ’67 died on July 6, 2023, at his home in Cromwell, Conn., near both Hartford and New Haven on the Connecticut River. Born in Greenport, Long Island, on Jan. 16, 1946, he grew up in Bridgehampton and came to Hamilton from Bridgehampton High School where he was salutatorian of his class and captain of the school’s golf team. On the Hill, he was a member of Chi Psi fraternity and majored in English. 

After Hamilton, Keith accepted a position at Rumsey Hall, a private school in Washington, Conn. In April 1969, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served until June 1972. Sent initially to the Department of Defense’s Language Institute in Monterey, Calif., he studied Chinese and translated at the department for several years, after which he studied Chinese history at the National Taiwan University in Taipei. It was there that he met Joanne Lin; they were married on Aug. 17, 1974. They had one son.

After returning to the U.S. in late 1974, Keith was admitted to the University of Connecticut’s Law School the following year. Earning his Juris Doctor in 1978, Keith began practicing law in Hartford, first on his own and later for a brief period as a partner in a Hartford law firm before moving his practice to Middletown, Conn. He and his family relocated to nearby Cromwell, which would be his home for the rest of his life. His first marriage having ended, Keith married Julia Turnquist Bradley in 1986. 

Keith played golf starting in high school, and his passion for the sport continued into retirement. He read widely with particular attention to books on history, politics, languages, and culture. He also traveled extensively with his wife.

Keith W. Acker is survived by his wife and son.  

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