Warner Adams

Warner Adams was born November 1, 1938 in Cleveland to Marion Warner Adams and Walter Croxton Adams. He attended Lomond Elementary School before enrolling in University School, class of 1957. Warner was the third generation of his family to attend University School. He enjoyed being a Boy Scout and attended a Boy Scout Jamboree in California. During high school, he was on the varsity swim team. Warner also enjoyed stamp collecting with his family. The family entertained foreign students from the Philippines and Germany. They took a trip to Europe in 1957 which solidified his interest in foreign travel. After graduation from University School, Warner attended Yale University where he majored in Industrial Administration. During the summers, Warner worked at the AM MacGregor Home and then at the Austin Construction company when they were building the Severence Shopping Center. After graduating from Yale in 1961, Warner began work at BF Goodrich. In 1965, he was one of the employees assigned to study computer science; thus began his career as a computer systems analyst. He continued to work for BF Goodrich through the company's name changes and move to Avon Lake. In 1992, Warner took early retirement. In 1956, Warner had met Norma Gilcrest on a blind date. They began dating and continued to do so through college. Warner often made the drive from New Haven to New London, CT where Norma was attending Connecticut College. They were engaged in 1960 and married in July, 1962. They moved to Cuyahoga Falls where Norma began teaching elementary school. Their first child, Andy, was born in Akron in 1966. Warner requested a transfer to BF Goodrich Chemical in Cleveland and so the couple moved to Lyndhurst. Their second child, Elizabeth, was born in Cleveland in 1970. Warner volunteered many hours working in the Meadowwood community park and pool. He served as treasurer for many years and also managed the pool. In 1986, Norma and Warner hosted an AFS student, Andrea Apablaza from Chile. Andrea became a true member of the family. Warner had his first bout of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in 1989 and the second in 1991. Despite his weakness, he was able to walk Elizabeth down the aisle when she married Christopher Eckman in June, 1992. In December, 2000, Andy married Jitka Bures in Antigua with the whole family present. By now, Elizabeth and Chris had two daughters, Laura and Megan, for Grandpa to dote on and he really enjoyed that role. Later Elizabeth added Amy to her family and Andy had Isabella and Olivia to add to Grandpa's fun. Andrea and her husband, Marcelo, had 3 boys and 1 girl to add to the grandparenting. After his retirement, Warner and Norma began to travel, visiting the Caribbean several times on cruises. They also visited Normandy, Monet's home at Giverny, England, Ireland and Wales, Scandinavia, Italy, and the countries of Eastern Europe. Several visits were to son Andy's home in Luxembourg. Warner's cancer returned in 2005 and all travel plans were put on hold. In 2006, Warner suffered an extreme case of pneumonia and spent 3 1/2 weeks in the UH ICU and 4 more weeks in rehab at Heather Hill. In 2009, Warner suffered a retinal stroke and became blind in his right eye. He also had to have carotid surgery which was more complicated than expected. In 2010, to celebrate Norma's 70th birthday, they went on a cruise to Hawaii. Warner managed to enjoy the trip, but returned home with pneumonia. After a week in the Cleveland Clinic, Warner was released. The following week, however, he was admitted to UH and started dialysis treatment. In May, 2011, Warner fell twice in the house and broke his hip. When elderly people break bones such as legs or hips, it often sets off a cascade of problems. That seems to be what happened to Warner, who seemed to heal ok, but began to decline and died almost 4 weeks after the falls. Warner was, also, the brother of Seymour F. Adams Jean of El Paso, TX. The family prefers that those who wish may make donations in his memory to University School, 2785 SOM Center Rd., Hunting Valley, OH, 44022, www.us.edu , or The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, PO Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202. www.lls.org / Memorial Services will be held Wednesday, June 8th at 4pm in Plymouth Church of Shaker Heights, 2860 Coventry Rd, at Weymouth Rd. The interment will be a private family service in Knollwood Cemetery. FRIENDS MAY CALL AT BROWN-FORWARD, 17022 CHAGRIN BLVD., SHAKER HTS., OH TUESDAY, JUNE 7TH FROM 5-7 PM


PDF Printable Version