Robert V. Adams

December 27, 1931 - February 10, 2015 Robert V. Adams, entrepreneur, Xerox executive, board member of the L.A. Opera, philanthropist, nature photographer, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, died in Santa Monica, California on February 10th after a long and courageous battle with heart disease and cancer. He was 83 years old. Born in Hammond, Indiana December 27, 1931, he attended Purdue University on a track scholarship and was the first of his family to attend college. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1954 and in later years he was honored as a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus, won the Outstanding Mechanical Engineer Award, and received an honorary doctorate in engineering. He took great pride in giving back to the university by endowing a chair in Mechanical Engineering. While working as an engineering manager at Inland Steel, he earned his MBA at the University of Chicago and would remain on their advisory board as a lifetime member. The largest lecture hall in the downtown campus of the Business School is named in his honor. He joined Xerox in 1969 when it bought Scientific Data Systems, the company for which he was then working. As president of Xerox's Printing Systems Division he led the development, manufacturing, sales, and marketing of laser printing products and became executive vice president of Xerox in 1985. After retiring he returned to become CEO of Xerox's new venture capital operation, Xerox Technology Ventures. He started nine new companies; two of which went public. In an interview Bob once said, "When you're in a new venture, there are no rules. There is no path. You cannot look at where you've been to figure out where you want to go. You cannot look at someone else who's doing it already. You have to invent as you go along." In 1998 he joined the board of the L.A. Opera company, creating a long range plan that to this day has a significant impact on the company. With his wife he underwrote the Robert Wilson production of Madama Butterfly and in 2009 he was elected a lifetime trustee of the opera. In recent years he pursued his lifetime passion for photography. His nature photographs drew critical praise, appeared at the San Diego Natural History Museum and were featured at galleries in Twin Bridges, Montana and Venice, California. He loved nature, music, fly fishing, travel, his ranch in Montana, books, fine wines, films, hiking, and was devoted to his many friends and his family. Always the last to speak, he had the most to say with the fewest of words. He is survived by his wife Barbara Abercrombie; the children of his first marriage, Leslie Adams of Twin Bridges, Montana; Julie Olson of Oahu, Hawaii; and Bo Adams (Kristine) of Torrance, California; his stepchildren, Brooke Abercrombie and Gillan Abercrombie Frame; his brothers Richard Adams and Paul Adams, and seven grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church in Beverly Hills on February 21st. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Music Guild of All Saints in Beverly Hills or The Educational Fund of the Los Angeles Opera or a charity of your choice.