David Christopher Adams

WESTERLY - David Christopher Adams, 20, beloved son of Tiffany Marie Adams of Westerly, RI, ascended into Heaven on January 3, 2026 at 4:26pm at Rhode Island Hospital following a valiant year-long battle with Stage 4 Refractory Burkitt Lymphoma. David was surrounded at his bedside by his mother Tiffany, his adoring grandparents, Christopher (Pop) and Joanna Adams (Nana) of Westerly, RI and his doting uncle, Joshua Adams of Cranston, RI when Jesus and all of the angels walked him to everlasting life and peace eternal.

David attended Westerly Public Schools and Played Westerly Pee Wee Football Offensive and Defensive Line under the nickname 'Tank' from the ages of 8-14 years old. He Graduated with Honors from Chariho High School Class of 2023.

David received several scholarships and went on to major in Computer Science at The University of Rhode Island where he took much pride in excelling in all he set out to accomplish. When David was diagnosed with cancer in the hospital on January 11, 2025 his first question and response was 'Am I going to be able to make it back to the start of classes for the 21st?' David's dedication to his learning and education was exemplary. Especially while in the midst of being diagnosed with the most rare and aggressive form of B-Cell Lymphoma there is.

David's High Performance, his ability to analyze information and master complex skills was extraordinary. He excelled in all studies especially mathematics and science. When David was picking out a foreign language, he chose Chinese. David enjoyed welding as well as Robotics and ESports. His determination to meet the goals and expectations he set in place for himself, to fulfill his responsibilities, graduate from college and 'live The American Dream' were so very important to him.

David was an avid and well-respected gamer. He built his own gaming computer on his mom's dining room table in just two days. He spent from the time he was 8 years old until present climbing the ranks in gaming communities online and is a legend in his own right. When David didn't have his head in his books at school, you could find him in the summertime parking cars at Misquamicut Beach, spending quality time at Nana and Pops house working on home improvements and projects with his Pop, such as building a shed in the backyard for Nana, building a deck around the pool and splitting and stacking wood every year. David never missed an opportunity to show up for their weekend cookouts or to sit around a fire listening to music. David loved going to Dairy Queen with his mom sometimes several nights in a row for a Royal New York Cheesecake Blizzard. If there were firework displays David and his mom were always in attendance but they especially loved July 4th Fireworks at The Ocean House together. David loved riding the train with his entire family for yearly trips to New York for the tree lighting at Rockefeller Center. On occasion he was lucky enough for Uncle Josh to be the engineer. David and his mom would be first in line to get into the movie theater when the latest Marvel movie hit the big screen. David enjoyed playing golf and tennis. Most of all David loved driving his 2002 Ford Mustang. He took so much pride in the renewal and restoration work from the frame up that he and his Pop completed together. David seldom took the highway and always stayed on the backroads listening to his favorite songs with the windows down and the wind at his face. He was the type of person that broke for squirrels. So gentle, humble, and kind.

David had many places that he still wanted to visit and things he wanted to do but often fondly recalled 2020 when he visited Paris, France and Belgium with his Uncle Josh. Then a recent trip to Canada he took to meet gaming friends online who became his most cherished friends.

In addition to his mom, Pop, Nana and Uncle Josh, David has gone before his darling and beloved 13-year-old Maine Coon Tabby cat 'Cookla' aka 'Cooky Bear'. She was David's shadow and wherever David went, she would follow.

David was predeceased by his great-grandparents, Lucy (Feraco) and Antonio Cristina of Westerly, R.I. and Margaret 'Peggy' and John 'Jack' Adams of Pawcatuck, CT.

David fought fiercely and so very bravely against Stage 4 Burkitt Lymphoma accepting every challenge and obstacle set in his path with grace. Though the odds were stacked against him, David stayed positive and determined every single day for 357 days never getting a break or time off. With perseverance, strength, courage, bravery and dignity. Always with a smile on his face and a twinkle in his smiling eyes. David fought with everything he had to stay here on Earth and never gave up. The greatest way his friends and family can honor David is to make the best of and treasure every day of their life here on Earth in the physical. To be present with their family and those they hold dear and to never pass up the opportunity to show up for those they care about and love. David wanted more than anything for a second chance at life and to resume back to normal and strived for that outcome every day.

David has very specific requests as he shines down from the heavens above. He 'never wants to be a memory and doesn't want to be spoken of in past tense'. He would like to be kept in the hearts and souls of all he loves and all who love him as present so not to break the bonds that he has with his friends and his family.

Heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to David's care teams spanning across three states. Rhode Island Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and University of Maryland.

David spent May to June in the care of Massachusetts General Hospital - Lunder 10 completing CD-19 CAR-T Cell Therapy with Dr Patrick C. Johnson and Dr Matthew Frigault. Then from late October to early December, David went on to be the first ever Refractory Burkitt Lymphoma patient and the fifth patient ever to enroll into a clinical trial as his last hope and received Triple Antigen CAR-T Cell Therapy at University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center in Baltimore Maryland.

Although David's Care Teams were expansive, David's home base for care was always Brown University Health Rhode Island Hospital where his care and treatments were very specific and targeted toward the most rare and aggressive form of B Cell Lymphoma known to man. Burkitt Lymphoma only makes up for 1-2% of Adult Lymphomas and 30-40% of Childhood Lymphomas. David's cancer appeared as sporadic with no rhyme, reason or explanation. Although highly treatable, his lymphoma was deemed refractory on April 21st, meaning it would be much harder to treat and cure. Still, he kept the same energy until his last breath saying 'I'm not giving up!'

Especially and Eternally grateful always to Dr. Adam Olszewski, Providence, Rhode Island. David's Oncologist who was placed in David's path, not by happenstance. Dr Olszewski and David made a wonderful team. Together, staying focused on the goal in front of them. Exhausting all options and avenues to eradicate David's cancer. Where many clinical trials excluded Burkitt Lymphoma, Dr O was always prepared to provide David another option for treatment and nothing was out of reach for David with him in his corner. Not just a doctor but a dear friend and confidant to David. Countless days texting and FaceTiming with his doctor and friend when he was away receiving care outside of Rhode Island and trusting in him above anyone else.

So many thanks to Hope Health Palliative Care Team, who kept David's pain as minimal as they could and strong enough to fight on the entire last year allowing him battle on.

To the entire staff on the 8th Floor (Angels on 8) at Rhode Island Hospital who cheered David on rallying beside him, in front of and behind him. Believing in him and caring for him as if David was their very own.

David's family will never forget you and are forever grateful for the love you poured into him and to them.

Donations are greatly appreciated, and may be made to his mother, Tiffany Adams, by way of GoFundMe which can be found online by searching 'David's Brave Battle with Refractory Burkitt Lymphoma'.

A Roman Catholic Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00am on Monday, January 12th at Immaculate Conception Church, 111 High Street, Westerly, RI. Christian Burial will follow at St Michael's Cemetery, Stillman Avenue Ext., Pawcatuck. Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce St., Westerly is in charge of the arrangements. For online condolences please visit www.gaffneydolanfuneralhome.com