Richard Wells Adams

Richard Wells “Rick” Adams, age 74, passed away suddenly at Duke University Hospital on Tuesday evening, September 21, 2021. Rick and his wife, Mary Ellen, recently moved to Hillsborough NC from Bath NC to be closer to his older son’s family and to the Durham VA. In some ways, it is amazing he made it as far as he did. In other ways, it is hard to believe he isn’t still with us.

Rick was born in Nyack NY to Francis Humbert and Virginia Wells Adams. He was the middle child between two sisters. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen Adams, his son, Chris Adams, his wife, Irina, and grandson Matthew Adams of Chapel Hill; his son Justin Adams of Bali, Indonesia and his mother, Virginia Wells Adams of Schaghticoke, NY, who is 101. Also surviving Rick are his sisters, Beth Adams-Smith and husband Richard of Mystic, CT, and Carolyn Griffith Hampson and husband Maurice of Richmond, VA; his brother-in-law John Schwab (Houston, TX); uncles, Edwin Wells and John Wells (Sarasota, FL); and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Rick was preceded in death by his father, Frank Adams, Mary Ellen’s parents, John and Sandy Schwab, and brother-in-law, Steve Schwab and three devoted CCI dogs that brought him much joy, Hester, Flynn and Buff.

Rick attended high school in Glen Rock, NJ where he received the Order of the Arrow from the Boy Scouts and went on to graduate with a degree in Economics from the University of Richmond, where he met Mary Ellen. Vietnam was in full swing then, so he joined the ROTC and graduated with the Distinguished Military Student Award, allowing him to pick his station. He went to Germany as a 2nd Lt with his wife Mary Ellen and their first child. They travelled around Europe in an Alfa Romeo. He built a throne of US dollar bills for fun. For some reason the military didn’t let us keep that picture of Chris sitting in that throne …..

It was while he was on active duty that Rick experienced his first symptoms of MS, although he wouldn’t receive a diagnosis until five years later, when he was back at home working in his family’s business on Long Island. Rick faced the news with determination to live out a full life. And he did in amazingly creative ways! He found his way to an experimental drug in the lab of Dr. Bornstein at the Einstein Medical College in NYC and became in his words “a white rat” helping study what is now Copaxone. It helped change the course of his illness and made more room for his extraordinary life.

He created so many wonderful opportunities to experience the world. A love of the outdoors, water and boating were a part of Rick’s life from childhood. He raised his sons, Chris and Justin, boating and camping from the time they were toddlers. Rick built a summer cabin, “The Boat House,” next to his mother’s cottage on the upper Hudson River in the Adirondacks so that his family could enjoy a house on the water with extended family. Summers in Connecticut were spent cruising from Long Island Sound to the Maine coastline in a Maine built Downeaster that he customized for his needs. He was determined to boat until he could no longer. With a subtle sense of humor, he named his boats Tenacious I&II, Elixir, Indian Summer and finally SS Pontoon for trips up and down Bath Creek.

He was fiercely protective of his sons. Like a momma lion. He took care of his boys no matter what. Always. He cared deeply about others, seeming to know what they needed, when they needed it.

Rick was an achiever against all odds. He was a successful entrepreneur. He co-founded an international trade business selling spare parts for heavy mining equipment around the world from offices in Norwalk, CT. He once imported hundreds of cases of wine from Chile, a crazy story. When his MS progressed to the point where he could no longer work, Rick retired and sold the business.

A love of the water is what brought Rick and Mary Ellen to Bath. They “discovered” Bath in the early 1990s, bought a lot on Bath Creek and built on it in 2000. In the 20 years they lived in Bath, Rick never grew tired of watching the change of clouds and scenes on Bath Creek. He was a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church. He particularly enjoyed working with other members of the Backpack Pals committee packing food for children to take home for the weekend.

A Celebration of Life will be held at St. Thomas in Bath, NC at a future date. We give heartfelt thanks to the VA, for providing support and medical care for many years, and to his caregivers, Leisa Norris, Lucy Slade and Hope Donahue. For those so inclined, please make donations to the Disabled American Veterans, Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), or Wounded Warriors.

Throughout his life, Rick was generous, kind, courageous and determined. He faced the challenges of his life with humor, grace, and a fighting spirit. He will be greatly missed. Please share your memories with us. It would mean a lot.