Commander James Joseph Adams

Virginia Beach Commander James Joseph Adams, USN, (RET) a native of Rochester, New York, was born July 12, 1949, and passed away peacefully on November 16, 2010, in Norfolk, Virginia, at Sentara Leigh Hospital with family by his side. He is survived by his loving wife Phyllis Yewell Adams, his daughter Martha Carole Adams, his son Jeffrey Yewell Adams, all of Virginia Beach, Virginia. In the Rochester, NY area he is survived by his mother Dorothy Kaiser Adams, his brother Ronald James Adams, his sister Barbara Adams Zapoticnyj and her husband Walter, two nieces-Lisa Zapoticnyj and Jill Payne and her husband Brian. Surviving aunts and uncles in the Rochester, NY area include Betty Adams Bartholomay and her husband Richard, Grace Kaiser, Joseph Kaiser and his wife Carol, Florence Rosbough, Teresa Orbanek, Eugenia Srmack, and several cousins. Also in the Rochester, New York area he was predeceased by his father Harry James Adams, his grandparents George and Edith Adams and Joseph and Stella Kaiser. Additionally, he was predeceased in the Rochester, New York area by other aunts and uncles, including Reginald and Olive Adams, Edna and George Schneible, William, Helen and Doris Adams, Frederick and Emily Adams, Victor Kaiser, Richard Rosbough, James Orbanek, and William Srmack. In Kentucky and Georgia he is survived by his brother-in-law David Lee Yewell and his wife Jean, his nephew Dr. Jason Lee Yewell and his wife Mary Kaye and their son David Grant, his niece Emily Yewell Volin and her husband Dr. Curtis Volin and their children Yewell Earl Volin and Vera Elizabeth Volin.  In Kentucky he was predeceased by his father-in-law Edwin Howell Yewell and his first wife, Loretta Calvert Yewell and subsequently by margaret Yolanda Berado Yewell. Commander Adams was a 1967 graduate of Bishop Kearny High School, Rochester, New York, a 1971 graduate of Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, with a Bachelor of Science in the School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, a 1988 graduate of Golden Gate University, San Francisco, California with a Master of Business Administration, and a 1996 graduate of Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, with a Master of Science in Education. Commander Adams was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy Reserves prior to his graduation from Cornell University. After Basic Surface Warfare Officer School in Newport, RI, he was assigned aboard the USS CHARLESTON (LKA 113) as the Boat Group Commander and subsequently as Auxiliaries Officer. In July 1974, Commander Adams reported aboard the Guided Missile Patrol Gunboat support ship, USS GRAHAM COUNTY (ALP 1176) home ported in Naples, Italy, as First Lieutenant and later Operations Officer. He assumed the additional duty as Chief Staff Officer for Patrol Division TWENTY-ONE, which consisted of the supported ship and four guided missile patrol gunboats. From September 1975 to October 1976, Commander Adams served aboard the guided missile patrol gunboat USS READY (PG 87) as Executive Officer, with collateral duties of Navigator, Operations and Communications Officer. While awaiting Department Head School, Commander Adams was assigned temporary duty to Destroyer Squadron TWENTY-EIGHT staff in Newport, RI. There he served as assistant Material Officer and was assigned engineering duties aboard USS NEWMAN K PERRY (DD 883). Upon graduation with distinction from the Surface Warfare Officer School Department Head course, and receiving the City of Newport's Mayor Award as the top student in Management, Commander Adams reported to the USS DAMATO (DD 871) in Newport, RI as Weapons Officer until October, 1979. In December 1979, he reported aboard the USS PONCE (LPD 15) in Norfolk, Virginia as Operations Officer, where he participated in the Cuban refugee boat lift in the Florida Straits. In November 1981, he reported to the staff of Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet as Assistant to and then Force Plans Officer in Norfolk, Virginia from February 1984 to December 1985, he served as Executive Officer aboard USS AUSTIN (LPD 4) home ported in Norfolk, Virginia, and subsequently reported to the staff of Commander Amphibious Squadron TEN, Little Creek, Virginia, in January 1986 where he served as Chief Staff Officer. Following Prospective Commanding Officer training in Newport, RI, he assumed command of the USS SPARTANBURG COUNTY (LST 1192) home ported in Little Creek, Virginia. During this command tour, USS SPARTANBURG COUNTY participated in Operation Desert Shield; Desert Storm and was the first East coast amphibious ship to enter the Persian Gulf. In June 1991, Commander Adams reported to the Staff of Commander THIRD FLEET in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and later shifted homeports to San Diego, California. He served as the Amphibious/Mine Warfare Officer until October 1992. In February 1993, he reported to the Naval Amphibious School, Little Creek, Virginia and served as its last Executive Officer. In May, 1994, the Naval Amphibious School, Little Creek and the Landing Force Training Command, Atlantic combined and formed the Expeditionary Warfare Training Group, Atlantic, where Commander Adams served as its first Executive Officer until his completion of active Naval service September 1, 1995. Commander Adams was awarded two Meritorious Service Medals, five Navy Commendation Medals, the Navy Achievement Medal with two bronze stars, two Humanitarian Service Medals, the Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, and the Expert Pistol Shot Medal. Other awards include the Navy Unit Commendation, four sea Service Deployments, three Battle Efficiency "E", Naval Reserve Sea Service, Navy Overseas Service, and Coast Guard Special Operations ribbons. Upon terminating his active Naval service, Commander Adams began a second career as a Virginia Beach City Public School teacher, first as a long term substitute at Brandon Middle School and eventually he transitioned to being a full time teacher in math and science at Salem Middle School, where he had been teaching for the past twelve years, until the time of his death. According to the notes written to him by his students during his recent illness, Commander Adams was very devoted, well-admired and professional educator. He was highly-regarded by his colleagues and administration and known as the "Gentle Giant". Commander Adams was a member of the First Baptist Church of Norfolk, Virginia, the Surface Warfare Association, the Navy League of Hampton Roads, the U.S. Naval Institute, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematic, as well as National Education Association, the Virginia Education Association, the Virginia Beach Education Association, and the alumni associations of his high school and the three universities from which he was awarded degrees. In September, 1975 the Commonwealth of Kentucky, under the direction of the then Governor Julian M. Carroll commissioned Commander Adams to the status of Honorary Colonel for his patriotic naval service while stationed in Italy. Commander Adams' viewing will be held at the Woodlawn Funeral Home, 6329 East Virginia Beach Blvd., Norfolk, Virginia 23502 on Friday, November 19th, 2010, from 6:30-8:00 pm EST where the family will welcome friends, colleagues, family, and former shipmates. His funeral will be held the following day, Saturday, November 20, 2010, at 1:30 pm EST at the Woodlawn Funeral Home, also, and will be led by the Reverend Phillip Herring, with assistance from the Reverend Richard Baker, and Chaplain Bron Forrester, USN (Ret). Traditional Protestant and Catholic music will be played by organist Welton Ewell and sung by Katharine Lafave. Following the funeral, Commander Adams will receive full military honors prior to his internment at the Avenue of History Veterans Garden at the Woodlawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery adjacent to the funeral home. A reception will be held inside the funeral home following Commander Adams' burial. In lieu of flowers, persons may donate to the American Diabetes Association, the American Cancer Society or a charity of their personal choice.