James Adams

James J. Adams VIRGINIA BEACH - Retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. James Joseph Adams, a native of Rochester, N.Y., was born July 12, 1949 and passed away peacefully Nov. 16, 2010 in Norfolk at Sentara Leigh Hospital with family by his side. He is survived by his loving wife, Phyllis Yewell Adams; his daughter, Martha Carole Adams; his son, Jeffrey Yewell Adams, all of Virginia Beach. In the Rochester area he is survived by his mother, Dorothy Kaiser Adams; his brother, Ronald James Adams; his sister, Barbara Adams Zapoticnyj and her husband Walter; two nieces, Lisa Zapoticnyj and Jill Payne and her husband Brian, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was predeceased by his father, Harry James Adams in Rochester. Cmdr. Adams was a 1967 graduate of Bishop Kearny High School, Rochester, a 1971 graduate of Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., with a Bachelor of Science in the School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, a 1988 graduate of Golden Gate University, San Francisco, with a Master of Business Administration, and a 1996 graduate of Old Dominion University, Norfolk, with a Master of Science in education. Cmdr. Adams was commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy Reserves prior to his graduation from Cornell University. He served on USS CHARLESTON (LKA 113), USS GRAHAM COUNTY (ALP 1176), Patrol Division TWENTY-ONE, USS READY (PG 87), Destroyer Squadron TWENTY-EIGHT, USS NEWMAN K PERRY (DD 883), USS DAMATO (DD 871), USS PONCE (LPD 15), commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, USS AUSTIN (LPD 4), commander Amphibious Squadron TEN, commander THIRD FLEET, Naval Amphibious School, and Expeditionary Warfare Training Group, Atlantic. He was commanding officer of USS SPARTANBURG COUNTY (LST 1192) homeported in Little Creek, Va. During this command tour, USS SPARTANBURG COUNTY participated in Operation Desert Shield/ Desert Storm and was the first East coast amphibious ship to enter the Persian Gulf. Cmdr. Adams was awarded two Meritorious Service Medals, five Navy Commendation Medals, the Navy Achievement Medal with two bronze stars, two Humanitarian Service Medals, the Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, and the Expert Pistol Shot Medal. Other awards include the Navy Unit Commendation, four sea Service Deployments, three Battle Efficiency "E," Naval Reserve Sea Service, Navy Overseas Service, and Coast Guard Special Operations ribbons. Cmdr. Adams began a second career as a Virginia Beach school teacher, first at Brandon Middle School and then full-time teacher in math and science at Salem Middle School, where he had been teaching for the past 12 years until the time of his death. According to the notes written to him by his students, Cmdr. Adams was a devoted, well-admired and professional educator. He was highly-regarded by his colleagues and administration and known as the "Gentle Giant," Cmdr. Adams was a member of the First Baptist Church of Norfolk, the Surface Warfare Association, the Navy League of Hampton Roads, the U.S. Naval Institute, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, as well as National Education Association, the Virginia Education Association, the Virginia Beach Education Association, and the alumni associations of his high school and the three universities from which he was awarded degrees. In September 1975, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, under the direction of the then Governor Julian M. Carroll, commissioned Cmdr. Adams to the status of Honorary Colonel for his patriotic naval service while stationed in Italy. Cmdr. Adams' viewing will be held at Woodlawn Funeral Home, 6329 East Virginia Beach Blvd., Norfolk, VA 23502 today, Nov. 19, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. EST, where the family will welcome friends, colleagues, family, and former shipmates. His funeral will be held the following day, Saturday, Nov. 20, at 1:30 p.m. EST at the Woodlawn Funeral Home, also, and will be led by the Rev. Phillip Herring with assistance from the Rev. Richard Baker, and retired U.S. Navy Chaplain Bron Forrester. Cmdr. Adams will receive full military honors at the Avenue of History Veterans Garden at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens. A reception will be held following services. In lieu of flowers, persons may donate to the American Diabetes Association, the American Cancer Society or a charity of their personal choice.