ADUM, Kenneth Eugene, 74, of Tampa, Fla., went to be with the Lord on April 21, 2021, after a courageous battle with kidney cancer. Ken was born July 2, 1946, in NYC, N.Y. After residing in Pittston, Penn., his family relocated to Tampa where he graduated from Hillsborough High School in 1964 and five years later met the love of his life, Linda Jane Houdelette.
He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida, then began his career as a lifelong educator at Booker T. Washington Jr. High where he taught Social Studies pursuing his passion of working with kids. Later receiving a master’s degree in Education from USF, he continued teaching at Buchanan Jr. High and soon was appointed Dean of Boys at Madison Jr. High. Ken was honored to be selected as Dean of Student Affairs at Armwood High School in its inaugural year by Lyle Flagg, who became his highly respected mentor and friend, and was later promoted to Assistant Principal of Administration at Armwood. In 1988, he became principal of Adams Jr. High where he served enthusiastically until 1993, when he was named principal of Gaither High School. He was humbled to be chosen as the second principal of Gaither, which was named after his high school alma mater’s principal, Vivian Gaither, where Ken diligently led for eleven years. He served his final three years of his 37-year career with Hillsborough County Public Schools as Area Director of Area 7. He received numerous awards and served in many leadership capacities (Hillsborough ACD Administrator of the Year, HASA President-Elect, President, and Past President, Hillsborough County Council PTA/PTSA Outstanding High School Principal of the Year 3 times, and his most prestigious award the HASA Lyle Flagg Award for Distinguished Service in School Administration). During his tenure, Ken established various programs and student incentives including the first Pride/Drug Education Prevention chapter in HCPS, GHS Honor Circle, and the program that he was most proud of, Gaither Stampede, a Special Olympics training day in which special needs student athletes come to Gaither from all over to compete in Olympic events.
Upon his retirement, Ken and Linda enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S. and Canada and were fortunate to travel abroad on a European river cruise. Ken was a self-taught woodworker building many projects for his home, family, friends and church. He was an avid reader, a history buff, and a Perry Mason and John Wayne fan, not to mention his love for all things Christmas. Above all, family was the most important; always planning for the next family get together to host. He passionately served his community by coordinating holiday collections for Metropolitan Ministries and with his wife delivered meals to the homebound for Meals on Wheels. He selflessly volunteered his time to St. James United Methodist Church in many different roles including ushering, serving on various committees as well as Chairman of the preschool board. Ken looked forward to monthly luncheons with his Hillsborough High Class of 1964 classmates and thoroughly enjoyed participating in planning for class reunions and the group “70th” birthday party. He and Linda were inseparable and he treasured every opportunity to be with his wife. Ken was so happy that he and Linda were able to celebrate their milestone 50th wedding anniversary in November 2020.
He adored his children and grandchildren. Ken never passed up an opportunity to brag about his kids or stay up late discussing current issues in education with his daughters who followed in his footsteps as educators. He enjoyed watching westerns and war movies and completing home improvement projects with his son.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 50 years, Linda Houdelette Adum; their three children, Amie Adum Simmons-MacLauchlan (Marc), Tampa, Allison Adum Schaer (Mike), Wesley Chapel, and Anthony Cail Adum (Shelby), Land O’ Lakes; five grandchildren, Sherwin P. Simmons, III, Cail A. Simmons, Kennedy G. Schaer, Rylee F. Schaer, Hugh B. Adum, and Emilia Jane Adum arriving May 2021; brothers, Lawrence Adum and Robert Adum, Plant City, Anthony Adum, Bradenton; sister, Gina Adum Duvall, Anna Maria; and a multitude of extended family and countless loving friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Anthony and Olive Adum and brother, Ronald Adum.
A celebration of life will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 8, 2021, at St. James United Methodist Church, 16202 Bruce B. Downs, Tampa, Fla. A visitation will be held one hour prior at 10:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Ken to Meals on Wheels, Metropolitan Ministries, or Trinity Cafe.
