Ronald J. Adams

Ron Adams, 79, of Holderness, NH, died peacefully at home on Thursday, September 24, 2020.

Ron was born in Teanack, NJ, on May 19, 1941 and grew up in New Jersey but he and Mary Ann joked that they "got out." Ron was a New Hampshire man through and through.

Ron is preceded in death by his father Eugene Andrew Adams, his mother Evelyn Joy Adams, his brother, Eugene Adams, and his baby sister, Patricia Verducci.

Ron is survived by his wife and partner of 57 years Mary Ann (Wainczak) Adams and by their children Anne-Marie (Ed) McLaughlin, Ron (Pam) Adams, Kathleen (David) Ports, and Michelle (Dan) Arute and six grandchildren Edward and Patrick McLaughlin, Aubrey Joy Adams, Samuel and Lily Evelyn Ports, and Danielle Arute. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law, cousins, and many nieces and nephews in New Jersey, Wyoming, California, and Florida.

Ron was a process engineer for many years at Continental PET in Merrimack, NH but Ron was not defined by his career. Rather, he was defined by his commitment to his family and willingness to do what it took to provide for them. He could not have provided for his family without the partnership of his wife Mary Ann. Ron bore his responsibility as a father as his most important life role. Ron was always teaching his children the "right" way to do things, whether it was how to make a simple repair, the proper way to paint a room, or how best to spice a soup. When his kids were young, we found this trait annoying, often wanting to figure it out ourselves. As adults we realized this was not about dad being "right" or us being incompetent. His greatest joy was sharing his experience to spare us the pain and frustration of getting it "wrong." This was his way of saving us the time and frustration of having to do it again.

Ron was rarely idle, unless Notre Dame was playing football, or he had a good book to read. He was a voracious reader and was equally engrossed in Harry Potter as he was in Field and Stream. Ron could fix or build anything and was proud of his do-it-yourself mentality that he ingrained in his children. This mentality made his care challenging. We are so grateful to our mother for her commitment to caring for dad at home and to the aids who assisted her. Ron and Mary Ann shared a life based in mutual support and deep love for each other. They shared many adventures beyond those of raising four children. Together, they traveled all over the world, explored many of our National Parks, hiked the 48, 4,000-footers, summited Mt. Saint Helens with Kathleen and David, hiked to the summit of Mt. Washington to witness the engagement of Anne-Marie and Ed, slept in tents to hike with Ron, and shared loving meals, holiday cookie baking (and sampling), and haircuts at Michelle and Dan's NH home. They were happiest when the house was filled with family. Ron took his grandsons fishing and trap-shooting and hugged and ate ice cream and cookies with his granddaughters and was proud of his children and grandchildren's achievements.

We will remember Ron for his many life lessons: marry a good woman, save for retirement, never stop being a parent, be a good friend, don't forget the punchline of your joke, work hard, do a reality check, plan for your future, grow your own food, do it yourself, get an education, read, spend time with your friends and family, make time for your hobbies, and travel with your wife. Dearest Dad, life on earth will not be the same without you. Please give Grandpa, Gram, Eugene, and Pat all our love.

A celebration of life will be held on Ron's 80th birthday in 2021. Corny jokes, loving memories, and warm smiles are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to diabetes.org (American Diabetes Association) or alz.org (Alzheimer's Association).