Cloudy, 30° F
Dr. Sherron “Sherry” Carole Nay Acker was born in Lusk, Wyoming, on Sept. 12, 1941, to Zella May “Mazie” Humphreys Nay and Walton “Walt” Nay. She passed away on June 24, 2020, in Westminster, Colorado.
Sherry grew up in Powell, graduating from Powell High School in 1958. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley, her Master of Arts from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and her doctorate in Russian Studies from Rutgers University, with a thesis on “Maria Spiridonova and the Struggle for the Social Revolution.”
After receiving her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Sherry lived in Colorado Springs and Denver, Colorado, before moving to Nyack, New York, in 1974. She subsequently met Edward Acker and they married in 1976. Daughters Alexandra and Amanda followed in 1978 and 1982, respectively. Sherry and Ed relocated to Virginia in 2004, living in Fairfax and then Winchester. They moved to Broomfield, Colorado, in early 2020.
Sherry taught American history, European history, Russian history, and Russian studies, utilizing art and architectural examples to reinforce her history lectures. She taught at various higher education institutions including Pace University Westchester, Mercy College, Montclair State University, Seton Hall University, Rutgers University, and George Mason University. An avid genealogist, Sherry was a member of the Germanna Foundation, Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Baronial Order of Magna Charta. She loved history, current events, old movies, art, opera, cats, genealogy, Italian seafood, a good laugh, and spending time with her family.
Sherry is survived by her husband, Edward Acker; daughter Amanda Acker; daughter Alexandra Acker-Lyons and family Jonathan Lyons and Abraham Lyons; stepdaughter Laurel Acker Miyake, and family Dylan Miyake, Sawyer Miyake, and Hudson Miyake; and brother Ronald Nay and sister-in-law Bonnie Nay.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the New York Public Library, Friends of the Nyack Library, or the Historical Society of the Nyacks.
Sherry will be cremated and buried in Nyack.
