Sofia Adamson

ADAMSON-Sofia Adamson, devoted wife, intellectual, world traveler, writer, philanthropist and WWII survivor. Died at age 90, May 19, 2007 at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena. Known lovingly as Aunt Sofia by her 10 nephews and nieces and 17 great nephews and nieces, Sofia Adamson was the devoted wife of George Adamson for 64 years before he passed away in 2003. One of Sofia's most noted achievements was her autobiography, Gods, Angels, Pe arls & Roses. Published in 1982, this book details her life in the glamorous world of Hollywood where she as a young girl wrote scripts and worked with Alexander Pantages (Pantages Theatre) and her stepfather Anthony Xydias. On Saint Sofia's Day, September 17, 1938 she met her soon to be groom and a whirlwind romance began. After there wedding on April 12, 1939, and a month long honeymoon over the Pacific Ocean, George whisked her away to the Philippines where she became the Dean of the College of Education at Adamson University. This educational institution, founded by George Lucas Adamson (her husband George Atho's cousin), Alexander Athos Adamson (Sofia's brother-in-law) and George Athos Adamson (her husband), remains one of the largest student populated engineering schools in the world. In 1941 two prominent U.S. Army majors asked her to leave her post at the University to work as a Civilian Clerk at Fort Santiago for the Department of the United States Army where she ended up typing orders for General Do uglas McArthur. She then spent three years living under the Japanese occupation and describes in detail her 2-day grueling ordeal where she and her husband survived numerous shrapnel injuries inflicted by 105 mm. howitzers fired by friendly forces during the Battle for Liberation of Manila. As a result of this experience, 53 years later she received The Purple Heart, one of a very small group of women to be given such an honor. She was born Sofia De Mos to Marine and Demothenes (Dan) in Pocatello, Idaho on August 24, 1916. At the age of 3 she moved with her parents to Los Angeles where her father became a wholesales grocery salesman for S. E. Rykoff. He died in 1928. In 1919 Sofia's mother became the first Greek actress to perform in a Hollywood motion picture. Sofia's mother remarried in 1936 to Anthony Xydias, the first Greek silent film producer most noted for making over 100 historical western films. Sofia's education began by attending the Los Angeles public schools, graduating from Los Angeles Hig h School in 1933. In 1937 she received a Bachelor of Education from the University of California Los Angeles to become the first Greek woman to graduate with this degree from the Westwood campus of UCLA. As written by Barbara Beckly in an article headlined "Sofia Adamson Pasadena Personality" from the September 1984 edition of Pasadena Business, "Sofia Adamson-delightful and charming is an asset to Pasadena if there ever was one. Eyes twinkling with enthusiasm, she meets life head on, gets involved and g ets things done with the fervor of her Grecian heritage." One of her closest friends, Dr. Edgardo L. Arcinue, once wrote "Sofia, I'm overwhelmed by the breadth and depth of your intelligence and the strength and endurance of your enthusiastic leadership in volunteerism." A view he shared with his wife, Lucy. After recovering from her war injuries in Manila and later in an army hospital in San Francisco, Sofia and George moved back to Pasadena where she began over 50 years of service and generosity. From 1954-1955 she was the President of Philoptohos Society of St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Church of Pasadena. She then served on the Board of Directors at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral from 1950 to 1971. In 1968 she was President of the International Christian Scholarship Foundation and remained a Board Member until 1971. Most notably she was a co-founder and a generous contributor to the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena, California. In 1972 Sofia along with Margaret Palmer helped open the doors to thi s center for the art and culture of the Far East. She remained a Founding Trustee for life and made her last contribution in person just 5 days before she passed away. In 1971 she also was a Founder of the Philippine Arts Council and in 1984 was the Initiator for the Philippine Exhibitions' "100 Years of Philippine Poetry" and supporter of the "100 Years of Philippine Paintings" during the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. From 1974 to 1975 Sofia was the President of the Central Improvement Association of Pa sadena and later became the Chairman for Pasadena's Centennial Parade in 1986. In 1982 she became the Director of the United Mercantile Bank and Trust in Pasadena and held that position until 1990. Among her numerous honors, Sofia was given the 1971's "Woman of the Year" by the Philoptohos Society of Saint Sophia Cathedral, the 1988 Recognition Day Award from the Woman's Civic League of Pasadena, the Honoree of the Philippine Arts Council of Pacific Asia Museum in 1988, the 1990 Gold Award for Excellence in Community Service from UCLA, Doctor of Education, Honoris Cause from the Adamson University in 1992, the 1992 Gold Crown Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pasadena Arts Council, the Los Angeles Council Boy Scouts Distinguished Citizen Award in 1997 and the Purple Heart in 1998. Sofia was listed in the 1977 Edition of Who's Who of American Women and the 1979 Edition of the World's Who's Who of Women.Gods, Angels, Pearls and Roses, Sofia Adamson's autobiography has been published in the United States , the Philippines and Greece. Friends and family will remember Sofia Adamson for her devotion to her late husband George, her lifetime of achievements, her support of education, arts and culture and her active involvement in her community. She was loved and she will be missed. The quality of Sofia's life was entrusted to her caregiver, friend and scrabble companion, Mona Gumapon, whose devotion and loyalty for the past 15 years can not go unrecognized. A memorial service will be held at 11:00am on Fr iday, May 25 at Saint Sophia Cathedral 1324 South Normandie Ave, Los Angeles, Ca.