Adma H. Woodhead

6/7/1928 - 12/7/2024

Silver Spring, Md. - Adma H. Woodhead, a long-time resident of the New London area, died peacefully at home in Silver Spring, Md., on Dec. 7, 2024. Adma was a devoted wife, mother, and sittu (a Lebanese word for grandmother), a generous spirit, a caring nurse, and a troublemaker (of the good kind) who helped the save Ocean Beach in the 2000s. She had an open and engaging manner and readily made lifelong friends from all walks of life.

Adma was born on June 7, 1928, in Quincy, Mass., to Mary Daoud Hassan and Selman Asmuel Hassan, who were both born in Mlikh, Lebanon. She lived in an immigrant community with many other Lebanese families. Her first language was Arabic, which she retained a working use of for the rest of her life. On her first visit to the old country in 2005, her many Lebanese cousins were amazed that she spoke the village Arabic of South Lebanon from the turn of the previous century.

The family moved to New London in 1935, and Adma lived in the area for nearly 75 years until 2018, when it was time to leave her beloved Waterford ranch house to be closer to family. Adma had a glorious Depression-era childhood in downtown New London and loved to tell stories about her adventures on the river, on the streets, in the neighborhoods, and in the schools. When she was 11 years old, she famously swam a half mile across the busy Thames River and back again to prove to her conservative-minded parents that girls could swim too.

Adma graduated from Chapman Tech High School in 1947 (where she was known as Edna) and earned her RN from Boston City Hospital in 1953. She worked at the Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London.

That same year she danced with a handsome sailor named Keith B. Woodhead "Woody" at the Seven Brothers Lounge in downtown New London. After their marriage later that year, Adma took time off to be a Navy wife and mom to two daughters. Over the next decade the family followed Woody to postings around the United States, including San Diego, Norfolk, Portsmouth, the Great Lakes, and Groton as Woody completed 20 years of military service, retiring as a Master Chief.

The family settled in the New London area after Woody retired and he started his second career as an engineer at Electric Boat. Adma refreshed her nursing credentials in the mid-1970s and went back to work as a nurse in local nursing homes, serving for a time as a boss at Greentree Manor in Waterford. However, she preferred working with patients over managing the paperwork, so she gave up her management position with no regrets. She was an empathetic and diligent caregiver. After her first retirement she did private-duty nursing off and on.

Adma was an enthusiastic reader and loved historical biography. She read everything in the public library about Washington, Lincoln and Dolley Madison, as well as the Russian Revolution. Together with Woody, their love of reading and enthusiasm for learning instilled the same in their daughters. Adma was an inventive seamstress. She loved politics. She loathed Trump but always got along fine with her MAGA friends and neighbors. She was a firm supporter of women's rights and an advocate for peace in the Middle East.

She spent every summer on the beach, sitting in the same spot - just down from Zingus's food stand - with a rotating cast that included Shirley, Helen, Olga, Dotty, Beverly, Lou and Monty, and many other beach friends. She would 'swim the beach' daily, with her unique but effective stroke the result of never taking a swim lesson.

She volunteered at the soup kitchen in New London, and helped organize her annual high school reunions. But her greatest volunteer commitment was with Save Ocean Beach (the fondly nicknamed SOBs), where she helped organize and manage many fund-raising events over the years.

She loved her sunny garden in Waterford, and eventually learned to love her shady garden in Maryland. She always thought the deer had it in for her personally, but really they were just hungry for her hydrangeas. In her later years she spoke daily with her big brother Sam and her daughters, and loved hearing from family and friends near and far.

Adma was predeceased by her husband Keith B. Woodhead; her sisters, Salima Hassan and Shirley Rockholz; her brother Joseph Hassan; and son-in-law Bob Bauer. She is survived by her brother Sameer Hassan of West Palm Beach, Fla.; her sister-in-law Elizabeth Hassan of Fort Myers, Fla., and Kansas City; her daughters, Mary Woodhead of Salt Lake City and Sarah Woodhead (Rex Nutting) of Washington, D.C., granddaughters, Elizabeth Nutting (Andres Delgadillo), Halima Woodhead (Ryan Mitchell), and Madeleine Nutting. She is also survived by two great-grandchildren, Adma Rose and Jose William. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and many cousins around the world.

A small family memorial was held in Washington, D.C. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Doctors Without Borders or Planned Parenthood.