Mr. Robert N. Adrian Capt, USN, Ret.

Captain Robert “Bob� Nelson Adrian was born in San Francisco, California on July 5, 1919, the son of Jesse Bernard Adrian and Marguerite Hoffman Adrian. He was raised in the eastern Oregon community of Ontario on the banks of the Snake River near Boise, Idaho. Upon graduation from high school, he attended the University of Oregon and from there was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in the fall of 1939. As a midshipman, Bob played varsity football and baseball. Due to the onset of WWII, he graduated a year earlier than expected in 1942 and was sent on his first assignment. Captain Adrian reached his first destroyer, The Gregory in the South Pacific just prior to the invasion of Guadalcanal in August 1942. A few weeks later his ship came under attack during a night engagement with a Japanese naval force. After spending eight hours in shark infested waters, he was rescued and evacuated to the U.S. Naval Hospital in San Diego, California for treatment; Adrian was one of the few to survive the ordeal. During this period he was married to Joan Smith, of his hometown, on November 3, 1942. Following his return to duty, Captain Adrian ultimately served six sea duties on destroyer class ships as Gunnery Officer, Executive Officer and three commands. His shore assignments included Aide to Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy, the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, D.C and Secretary – Treasurer of the U.S. Naval Institute in Annapolis, MD. For exemplary service, Captain Adrian was recognized with the following awards: o The Purple Heart o American Defense Service Medal o Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with two silver and one bronze star (connoting 11 engagements) o American Campaign Medal o WWII Victory Medal o China Service Medal o Navy Occupation Service Medal o National Defense Service Medal o Philippine Defense Ribbon with two stars o The Asian Clasp After serving over 20 years, Captain Adrian elected to retire from the U.S. Navy in 1966. Thereafter he entered into the field of banking where he worked six years with the Maryland National Bank in Baltimore, MD as Vice President and eighteen years as President and Member of the Board of Directors with Annapolis Banking and Trust. Adrian again retired in 1990 this time to serve the community and his fellow servicemen. He volunteered as a Life Care Consultant for senior naval officer couples and widows and served in the following groups: o President of the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1943 for over 30 years o President of the Annapolis chapter of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association o President of the Annapolis chapter of the American Cancer Society o Trustee of the Annapolis Public Library and YMCA o Commissioner on the Board of the Anne Arundel County Commission of Fine Arts o Treasurer and member of the Board of Trustees of Severn School o Chairman of the 1995 Annapolis Area United Fund Drive o Member of the Annapolis Board of Police and Firefighters o Member of the Annapolis Rotary, Yacht and Annapolitan Clubs Captain Adrian is survived by his beloved wife, Joan S. Adrian of Annapolis, MD, two daughters, Judith A. Decker and Joan B. Adrian Morgan of McLean, VA, two sons, Robert N. Adrian, Jr. of Memphis, TN and James L. Adrian of Nashville, TN, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the: USNA Class of 1943 Fund U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association 247 King George Street Annapolis, MD 21401