Bethesda Terrace<\/a> in April 2021, Bob, 91, has become a beloved member of the senior living community, known for his kindness, his family ties and, of course, his lifelong passion for fishing. From organizing an annual fish fry to sharing stories of his globe trotting adventures, Bob brings energy and joy to all those around him.<\/p>\nFishing has been a thread running through Bob\u2019s life from the moment he cast his first line at the age of six. He learned to fish alongside his father\u2014a tradition now passed down through four generations.<\/p>\n
One of Bob\u2019s most cherished childhood memories involves his mother\u2019s unique fishing trick: making \u201cdough bait\u201d by dipping small pieces of dough into vanilla extract.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe vanilla extract certainly attracted the fish,\u201d he says. \u201cI owe my love for fishing to my father and my success to my mother!\u201d<\/p>\n
Bob\u2019s passion for fishing became a shared joy with his wife, Betty, whom he met on a blind date in high school. After marrying in 1954, Bob taught Betty to fish at Lake of the Ozarks, and together they discovered new fishing spots around the world, traveling to areas such as Ontario, Canada and the Sierra Madre Mountain range in Mexico.<\/p>\n
\u201cBetty had the best luck,\u201d Bob recalls with a smile. \u201cShe always caught the biggest one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even through different phases of his life\u2014serving in the Navy during the Korean War, working in the printing trade and later as a handyman\u2014Bob always found time for fishing. More than just a hobby, fishing became his sanctuary; it was at the water\u2019s edge, with rod in hand, that he found true peace.<\/p>\n
\u201cFishing has been the consistency throughout my life,\u201d Bob says. \u201cIt gives me time to think and meditate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since joining the Bethesda Terrace community, Bob has made sure to keep his fishing traditions alive. He annually treats the members of a Bible study group he leads to a fish fry lunch, with this year\u2019s event featuring around 50 pounds of fish caught and filleted by four generations of the Ackermann family.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was keeping the fish in my apartment freezer until I had too many and had to transfer it to the big freezer,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
Upon seeing how much fish he had, the Bethesda Terrace dining services team offered to assist by preparing and cooking the fish, using Bob\u2019s preferred seasoning.<\/p>\n
When he\u2019s not fishing, Bob enjoys taking walks around the community, reading mystery novels and spending time with his family. His daughter calls him twice a day, and family members frequently visit to share meals with him in the dining room at Bethesda Terrace.<\/p>\n
\u201cFamily has always been important to me,\u201d Bob says. \u201cI\u2019m grateful for their love and the fact that they\u2019re just down the road.\u201d<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, Bob\u2019s sense of adventure remains undimmed. With ice fishing and skydiving still on his bucket list, Bob Ackermann proves that the thrill of life doesn\u2019t fade with age\u2014it only grows richer.<\/p>\n
For more resident stories, visit Bethesda’s blog!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Some might say Bob Ackermann\u2019s life story resembles the ripples on a calm lake\u2014steady, far-reaching and deep, and extremely fitting for a fisherman like Bob. Since moving to Bethesda Terrace in April 2021, Bob, 91, has become a beloved member of the senior living community, known for his kindness, his family ties and, of course, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":43507,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[488,49,89],"class_list":["post-43505","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-life-at-bethesda","tag-active-seniors","tag-bethesda-terrace","tag-resident-story"],"aioseo_notices":[],"acf":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t