A Visionary Leader in Technology

Roger G. Ackerman / 1938–2022

Roger G. Ackerman, who steered Corning Inc. on a path from one industry to another, died in July 2022 at the age of 83. Ackerman ENG’60, GSNB’62,’95 (a 2001 inductee into the Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni) joined the company in 1962 and became CEO in 1996. He sold its kitchenware division, which had made Corning a household name, within two years. The bold move allowed Corning to concentrate on telecommunications. In becoming one of the world’s leading producers of fiber-optic cable and other technologies, the company helped create the backbone of the internet. Ackerman was a proud supporter of the university and served on the Rutgers University Foundation Board of Directors.