The passing of Rick Adams

Rick Adams

A man whom I consider an important person to my family passed away last Thursday.

Rick Adams was a runner, teacher, scholar, explorer, and friend. A transplant to the area who received his Master’s degree from the College of St. Rose, Rick devoted his personal life to generating peace and harmony throughout the world and spent his professional career helping – and perhaps saving – the lives of children over the course of twenty-two years in Troy’s Doyle Middle School.

When my oldest sister was undergoing treatments and battling childhood cancer that prevented her from being able to attend school, Rick tutored her and began a lifelong friendship that continued until his passing. His kind, gentle manner helped my sister and my family through a very difficult time.

Such was his contribution and reverence amongst my family members that for many years I had assumed he was a doctor of medicine, since the manner in which my parents and sister spoke of him alluded to him being instrumental in her recovery. It wasn’t until later that I learned he had been her tutor, and later still when I was old enough to understand the power contained in friendship and kindness.

I was very young when my sister went through her battle with cancer, and as such only recall meeting him years later as a child. But the memory is still vivid and I can still see his face in my mind. Such was the impression and aura of calm and serenity that he presented.

With the sadness felt by my family at his passing, I can only imagine the weight of their loss, and my heart goes out to them and especially his children.

And, also, a thank you. Your father was instrumental in the recovery of one of the most important people in my life, and for that I am forever grateful.

The world could use a few more Rick Adams’s, and it is our loss that there is now one less.

You can read his obituary here.