Kenneth Allen Adams

Kenneth Allen Adams, age 77, of Newark, DE, passed away peacefully from this life on Monday, December 11, 2023, following a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

Born in Kelso, WA and reared in Pittsburg, CA, Ken was known by all who encountered him for his quick intellect, sharp wit, and unbounded joy for life. Following graduation from Pittsburg High School in 1964 and studies at Oregon State University, Ken embarked upon a wide-ranging career as an event planner and political consultant before returning at 60 to full-time collegiate study at the University of Delaware. In his pursuit of a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science he earned membership in the Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies, and obtained a minor in Women’s Studies. He continued at U.D. to complete a Master of Arts degree in Liberal Studies before undertaking Doctoral work at Georgetown University.

Ken was gifted as both an athlete and scholar as a youth, playing varsity football and representing Pittsburg High School as State President of Student Councils and as one of two California state representatives to the National Senate Youth Program in Washington, D.C. His passion for learning enlivened his consultancy work and found its fullest flowering at the University of Delaware in his research on healthcare issues affecting women and ethnic minorities in former Eastern bloc nations, particularly Romania. A lifelong college football fan, he avidly supported the Delaware Blue Hens and Oregan State Beavers, and his love of learning and easily making new friends flowed naturally into his passion for travel.

Ken was preceded in death by his mother, Barbara (Moorcroft) Takehara; father, Kenneth Allen Adams; and brother, Michael Lee Adams. He is survived by his domestic partner of 34 years, John David Smith; their adoptive son, James Adams Smith; sister, Charmaine Island of Pittsburg, CA; and brother, Patrick Adams of Palm Springs, CA.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 3 pm until 4:30 pm on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 West Park Place, Newark, DE, where a memorial service will begin at 4:30 pm. Inurnment will be held privately.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ken’s memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, P.O. Box 5014 Hagerstown, MD 21741 or online by clicking here, or to the Parkinson’s Foundation, 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131 or online by clicking here.