IT’S BEEN HIS CALLING – Community Spotlight
Herbert Acker has been a mainstay of the Waynedale Community and the Lakewood Park Community Addition since his family built their home in the mid 50s. He returned to the neighborhood in 1964 following his time in the service and medical school. Herb’s current home in the addition is part of what is fondly referred to as “The Acker Compound” since he is blessed to have his daughters Erin and Kristen and son Grant, along with their families, in homes that are all next to each other around the corner.
Outwardly a quiet and affable man, Dr. Acker has a warm smile and wit about him. He is best known as a practicing family physician specializing in Geriatrics. At 83 years old and with 54 years of medicine under his belt, Dr. Acker has no immediate plans to retire and his patients are very glad to hear that.
Although seemingly a shy man, Herb has a heart the size of Texas. He is generous with his time especially as it relates to his patients; his bedside manner lets them know they have his full attention. He physically and financially supports charities and local fundraising events that benefit Waynedale. People find it amusing that at the past 10 Kingston Taste of Waynedale nights, a physician donated “booze baskets.” Let us clear that up. His daughter Erin explains that every year he has donated money in support of the event with instructions to buy something that will be popular for people to bid on. Hence the liquor gift baskets.
Herb Acker attended Northside High School and Purdue University School of Pharmacy. After graduating from Purdue, he returned to Fort Wayne and worked as a pharmacist at Lutheran Hospital, then located on Fairfield Avenue. There he met a student nurse, Dorothy Kaye Colando, and they began a 50 year plus relationship.
In 1958, Herb was drafted into the U.S. Navy and served his country for two years on a heavy cruiser, the U.S.S. Des Moines. Although there was an active war going on, he fortunately never got close to battle.
Upon his return, he graduated from IU Medical School and opened practice with Dr. Roser prior to joining Dr. Bowers and Dr. Michaels and starting BMA, better known as Brooklyn Medical Association. This separate corporation within Physician’s Plaza grew from these three founding doctors to as many as 34 physicians.
For years, Dr. Acker also worked part time as an ER doctor at Lutheran. He became certified as a Family Physician and has renewed his boards six times over his career. In 2004, Herb went on to become certified in geriatrics and renewed that certification in May of 2014 to continue to stay on top of his profession. As his clientele aged, he knew it was important to stay up on their issues. This was his license to work with “people his own age”.
Although Herb was extremely busy with his medical profession, he has always made time for family and fun. Herb has traveled many places with his wife, four children and 11 grandchildren. Some of the favorite places he has visited include the North and South Poles, Russia and Siesta Key.
Life advice from Dr. Herbert Acker is to “Work hard and love what you do in life. Pick the right friends and marry the right person. The love of family is most important. You wouldn’t be anywhere without them!”
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