Eugene "Gene" W. Adams
June 25, 1942 – October 19, 2015
Resident of Campbell
Eugene "Gene" Adams passed away peacefully at home on Oct. 19, 2015 in the arms of his wife and daughter. Gene fought a courageous and valiant over-5-month battle with pancreatic cancer.
Gene was born on June 25, 1942 to his father, Eugene Webster Adams, Sr., and his mother, Ursula Josephine Schultz Adams, in Dearborn, MI. His family took him on many road trips all over the U.S., and he loved the outdoors beginning at a young age. His passions as a youngster included baseball and hockey. Gene grew up in Melvindale, MI and graduated from Melvindale High School in 1960, where he was on the baseball team. After graduation, Gene and his best friend Bob Cashwell drove to Los Angeles on their own, seeking adventure. While working at several jobs, Gene attended Los Angeles City College, where he studied business. After college, he accepted the position of Account Manager at Ballard & Ballard in LA, engaged in the wholesale marketing of precious gems and metals. Also while in LA, Gene was on a local adult hockey team. In 1962, he moved back to Michigan to help his mother, and accepted the position of Assistant Manager in the Fine Jewelry Dept. of a mega department store. He was inducted into the Army in 1964, and was on active duty for two years, stationed in Europe. Gene remained in the U.S. Army Reserves until 1970. After honorable discharge from active duty in 1966, he returned to Michigan and resumed his managerial position at the same retail location as before. There he met his future bride, Edrita Roth. That same year he was offered a position at Wright-Kay Jewelers in Grosse Pointe, MI. He later held Account Management positions at Michigan Consolidated Gas Co. and Detrex Chemical Corp. In 1971, Gene moved to Grand Rapids, MI, and began a new career as a producer and coordinator of business seminars for Turning Point Programs, a speakers bureau, which featured well-known speakers such as Art Linkletter, Zig Ziglar, and Norman Vincent Peale. Gene was often called upon to be host and emcee for these live events, which took place at a multitude of cities from coast to coast across the U.S. Gene took a short break in 1973 and he and Edrita (Edie) were married at St. Joseph's Church in Wyandotte, MI. Immediately after the wedding reception, Gene went back on the road, taking Edie with him. They both worked on seminars, traveling all over the country and living out of suitcases for a whole year. In 1974, they moved their home base to Toledo, OH, while Gene continued doing seminars nation-wide. In 1976, they took some time off and toured Europe together. In 1977, Gene and Edie moved to California, first to Santa Cruz, and then to Silicon Valley. Gene accepted a position as an Admissions Manager at a private college of business & technology, and began another career in training and education in the tech industry, an area in which he worked for several years. While living in Los Gatos, their beautiful daughter Angela was born. In the early 90's, Gene became involved in business services, and worked as an Account Executive for a credit card processing company. Two years later, Gene started his own corporation, Intermarket Systems, Inc., with two divisions: a new credit card processing operation, and the other a merchant supply company. He was still working up until a few weeks before his passing.
Gene was very involved and devout in his religion, the Baha'i Faith, and served on the board of the Campbell Local Spiritual Assembly. He always had a special love for all his Baha'i friends. In 2014, he spearheaded the effort to bring back "World Religion Day", a celebration of the world's many religions. The event used to be held in Cupertino, but had ceased for several years. Gene and the Campbell Baha'i Community and members of other local Baha'i communities successfully brought back the celebration, and presented the first "World Religion Day" to be held in Campbell, CA at the Campbell Community Center on January 18, 2015. Gene also served as emcee for the event.
Gene and his wife and daughter traveled across the U.S. and Canada many times through the years. He was very involved in his daughter Angel's school and outside activities. Gene was an avid sports fan, and he really loved the University of Michigan sports teams, especially U of M Football. He always had a good time watching the games at Double D's in Los Gatos, CA with friends in the local U of M contingent. Gene was an excellent chess player and enjoyed playing in games and tournaments with his friends at the Kolty Chess Club in Campbell. In the past, he was an actor in community theatre with "The Park Players" of Allen Park, MI. In 1999, he worked as an extra in "EdTV", a feature film directed by Ron Howard starring Matthew McConaughey and filmed in San Jose and San Francisco. He was enthusiastic about life, and had a deep love of God, his family and friends, his country, the world, and people; he loved being with people and listening to their stories. He loved art, from the Old Masters to Modern, and music from Classical to Doo-Wop. He had a great sense of humor and was a master joke-teller. He had a huge heart and was always willing to help others.
He is survived by his loving wife, Edrita "Edie" Adams; his precious daughter, Angela "Angel" Adams; his sisters, Elaine Spica of Savannah, GA, and Shirley Lowe and her husband Jack of San Diego; his brother, Conrad Von Doran and his wife Kathryn of Whidbey Island, WA; his brother-in-law, William Roth of Lincoln Park, MI; and his many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews. Gene was predeceased by his mother and father, and his sisters Madalyn Quinlan (James) and Ruth Szobonya (William).
Heartfelt thanks to his doctors and nurses at Kaiser Medical Center Hospital, Santa Clara, and to his nurses and caregivers at Hospice of the Valley.
Gene Adams was a wonderful husband, father, and family member, and a friend to all.
Services have been held. Interment was at Los Gatos Memorial Park, in San Jose, Ca.

View the online memorial for Eugene "Gene" W. Adams