Ralph C. Aikman

Ralph Coleman Aikman, 77, of Litchfield, passed away on Thurs., Jan. 7, 2021 at 6:15 a.m. at his residence.  He was born on Jan. 1, 1944, in St. Louis, MO, an adopted son of Charles A. “Chalkie” and Geneva Ann (Heltsley) Aikman.  Ralph graduated Litchfield High School with the Class of 1962.  He went on to Georgia Tech as a Math Major, later switching to Mechanical Engineering.  While at Georgia Tech, Ralph was a member of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.  He married his first wife, Alice Annett Farmer in June 1965.  After he graduated from Georgia Tech in 1966 they moved to Rochester, NY.  Ralph worked for Kodak, designing the camera for “Spy in the Sky” satellites.  He took classes at the University of Rochester to work on his MBA.  He and his wife Alice started a stock market newsletter, “The Leverage Advisor.”  Ralph later quit his job with Kodak to go back to school full time, attending Harvard.  Ralph won a full fellowship to Harvard University, Graduate School of Business, and graduated with an MBA in Finance in 1970.  While at Harvard, he wrote a weekly column on investing for the student newspaper, “The Harbus News”.  After graduating from Harvard, he was the cost analyst on the Polaroid SX-70 camera and later became the Senior Financial Analyst for the Polaroid Corporation in Cambridge, MA.  In his later years, he worked for United Brands Corporation as VP Strategic Planning, Managing Director for Standard Research Consultants in New York, Managing Director at MMG Patricof & Co. in New York, and eventually settling as President at Candlewood Consultants in Tucson, AZ.  Ralph traveled extensively around the world throughout his years, often times to exotic places.  In May 1975, he and Alice divorced.  Ralph later met Nancy Ann Donahue and spent 10 years together with her, until their separation in 1984.  He married Ann Helmick on June 26, 1987.  After a long battle with frontal lobe demetia, Ann preceded him in death on Nov. 20, 2010.  Ralph later married Peggy JoAnn Roberts on Sept. 11, 2012 in Tucson, AZ.  She survives.  Ralph is also survived by:

2 step-sons, Michael (Carmen) Coatney of Hillsboro

                       Kevin (Lacey Dwyer) Coatney of Litchfield

1 daughter, Candace Alicia Corley

4 grandchildren, Cameron Corley; Rebecca Corely; Max Corley; Mackenzie Corley

3 step-grandchildren, Matthew Coatney; Josie Coatney; Dalton Coatney

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; and his second wife, Ann.

No services will be held.  Cremation rites were accorded.  Memorials may be designated to PAWS Care of Montgomery Co.

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