Gerald Adams

Gerald's gentle soul left his mortal body on January 22, 2014 at 6:05 a.m., at Hospice Wellington in Guelph, Ontario. He is mourned by his wife Judy Callahan of Rockwood, Ontario; his mother, Florence Adams of Fremont, Nebraska; his children: Shawnelle (Rev. Phil Alley), Shelli (Chris Novotny) of Fremont, Nebraska; Sheryl (Jay Uehling) of Uehling, Nebraska; Liz Adams (Mike Crites) formerly of Logan, Utah; Adam Myhill (Kristen) of Toronto, Ontario; Jeffrey Myhill (Madeleine) and Jessica Myhill, of Guelph, Ontario. He leaves his grandchildren: Michelle (Sam Gossett) of Round Rock, Texas; Justin Alley, Nicholas Adams, Aimee and Hannah Novotny of Fremont, Nebraska; Elizabeth, Grant, and Valerie Uehling of Uehling, Nebraska; Ava and Ella Crites of Denver, Colorado; Hannah and Owen Myhill of Toronto, Ontario; and Quinton Myhill of Guelph, Ontario. Gerald will be missed by his siblings: Marilyn (Rodney Begier) of Alexandria, Minnesota; and Jim Adams (Kathy) of Fremont, Nebraska; by other family members, friends, students, and academic colleagues around the world. Gerald was preceded in death by his father Arthur Adams.

Gerald was a scholar and a gentleman. He was born in Fremont, Nebraska on June 2, 1946. Among his many academic degrees, he received a dual Ph.D. in Human Development and in Family Studies from Pennsylvania State University. From 1983 to 1986 he was Chair of the Cooperative Ph.D. Program in Developmental Psychology at Utah State University in Logan, Utah. In 1990, he moved to Canada to become Chair of the Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition at the University of Guelph in Ontario. In 2000, Gerald was named one of the "Outstanding Scientists of the 20th Century." He retired from the University of Guelph as a Full Professor. Gerald was a world-renowned expert on personal identity and adolescent development, and an author of numerous publications, including text books, articles and monographs on human development and family relations. Gerald was devoted to his family, eager to lend an ear and give a word of encouragement, even as he struggled with his own health issues. He was an artist, an avid fisherman, and a great fan of the Penn State and Nebraska Huskers football teams.

Cremation has taken place. A private memorial service will be held in Guelph, Ontario. In Nebraska there will be a memorial service on February 1, 2014 at Fremont United Pentecostal Church, 401 North I Street in Fremont, at 11:00 a.m. As expressions of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to Hospice Wellington, 795 Scottsdale Dr., Guelph, ON, N1G 3R8, www.hospicewellington.org. Arrangements entrusted to Gilbert MacIntyre & Son Funeral Home, Guelph, Ontario. Online condolences may be sent at www.gilbertmacintyreandson.com.

In Gerald's words, quoting the Beatles song, "Let it be ..."