Samuel H. Adams

Samuel H. Adams of North Truro, 88, passed away unexpectedly on June 5th after a brief illness. Born in Tampa, Florida in 1938, he was the son if Dr. Samuel H. Adams and Mary (Munson) Adams and the over sixty-year Life Partner of Scott F. Ashley who preceded him in death the week before. Any poem written cannot do justice to how deeply they were involved in each other’s lives.

Growing up in Tampa, Sam attended schools there and then went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from Washington and Lee University and his Master of Music Degree from New England Conservatory in Boston. Sam received a Fulbright Scholarship and went on to study at the Hochschule für Musik Berlin, in Berlin Germany for two years where he received a Piano Arts Diploma. While in Germany, Sam recorded music for the Radio in the American Sector (RIAS) radio station during the Cold war.

Returning to his music roots in Boston, Sam never stopped his desire to learn and studied piano and organ under a number of greats including Bela Nagy, who further expanded his playing abilities. During this time, Sam also began his Doctoral studies attending the Boston University School of Music.

With an impressive classical repertoire on both piano and organ, Sam taught at New England Conservatory’s Preparatory School where in later years he became the Director of NEC’s School of Continuing Education as well as Director of the Summer School. In later years as he neared retirement and desired to step away from steep administrative duties, Sam Chaired the School of Continuing Education’s Piano faculty. In 2008 he was awarded the prestigious Jean Stackhouse Award for Excellence in Teaching from NEC’s Preparatory School. Sam retired from the New England Conservatory after decades of service in 2019.

Sam was also the Director of Music and organist for First Church in Chestnut Hill, MA beginning in 1972 and continuing in that position for forty five years, until his retirement from that position in 2017. After his retirement, and never far from the keys that he so loved, Sam filled in from time to time as the organist and sang in the Chorus at St Mary of the Harbor in Provincetown.

Sam so graciously gave his time to play at weddings, memorial services, and other events where that special touch was needed. We all felt so special when we knew Sam was playing. We’d smile when it was happy time and smile when it was a sad time. Sam could do that for us. His music touched the souls of so many who fondly remember his playing.

Sam playing piano will always be in our ears and his genuine warm friendship, smile, laugh and twinkling eye will always be in our hearts, and music will always be in the hands of those that he taught. In life, rare is the person that we can call Uncle, colleague, teacher, friend. Sam was all of those and more. Sam is survived by nieces and a nephew in Florida who thought the world of him along with many good friends. In addition to his partner Scott, Sam was predeceased by his brother, Robert Adams. The family is deeply appreciative and grateful for the many years of help provided to Sam by John Dundas.

A Joint Celebration of Sam and Scott’s Lives will be held on Saturday, October 21st at 10 am at St. Mary of the Harbor, Provincetown, MA. A Celebration of Sam’s Life will also be held on Sunday, October 22nd at 10:30 am at The First Church in Chestnut Hill, Chestnut Hill, MA. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Sam’s name, may be made to the music program at St. Mary of the Harbor, Provincetown, MA.

To express condolences to the family, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com and sign the online guestbook. Arrangements are by Nickerson Funeral Home, Wellfleet.