Natalie Adams Obituary

Adams

Natalie Adams

September 2, 1929

February 13, 2022



Natalie S. Adams passed away on February 13, 2022. She was born on September 2, 1929 in Princeton, New Jersey to Richard M. Stout and Laura E. Stout and was predeceased in death by both them and her brother, Vernon Farr.

She is survived by her two children, Deborah Adams Campbell (Charles L. Campbell) and David S. Adams (Derry B. Adams), and two grandchildren, John Henry Schroder Adams (Manon Lavaud) and Ann Frances Adams.

Natalie attended Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland, and Katherine Gibbs School in New York, New York. She met her future husband, Bernard S. Adams, at Princeton University, and they married on June 2, 1950. To the family, their love for one another seemed only to strengthen during their over sixty-five years together.

Natalie supported Bernard throughout his subsequent career in academia with five academic institutions, including during his 18 plus years as President of Ripon College. There she invited over 27,000 people into her home, hosting events for students, board of trustee members and distinguished guests including Duke Ellington, Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas and Senator Margaret Chase Smith. At her Christmas celebrations she annually entertained the entire senior class as well as the college choir, making a vast majority of the Christmas cookies herself.

Among her many commitments, Natalie was a founding member of the Green Lake Festival of Music, a board member and President of the Ripon South Woods Park Association and a choir member at the First Congregational Church of Ripon. She enjoyed tennis and stepped in one year to coach the Ripon College Women's Tennis Team to a conference championship.

When Natalie and Bernard retired to Colorado Springs in 1988, they joined the Broadmoor Community Church where she served as a member of the choir, Chair of the Arts Committee and a Lay Caregiver Minister. An assistant pastor working with her noted that Natalie continued to visit those in her care long after the Lay Care Ministry ceased to formally exist, referring to her as a "servant leader" in the church community. Natalie also served as President of the Symphony Guild and volunteered at Pikes Peak Hospice.

Above all, family was the central focus of Natalie's life. Her love for her children and grandchildren was the very definition of unconditional parental love. While her seeming blindness to her children's human failings and her hyperbole when speaking about her grandchildren was cause for much family laughter, all were grateful for her endless generosity of spirit, empathy and support without reservation. Natalie also loved playing tennis with various family members and friends for over 50 years, enjoying much fun and laughter well into her seventies. One our fondest memories is of her regularly standing with Bernie at their door after a family gathering, no matter the weather, and waving goodbye until all were out of sight. As she faced her growing dementia, she was the model of grace and courage, exhibiting kindness and remaining thankful for a life well lived.

Natalie was a beloved resident of MorningStar at Bear Creek, and the family wishes to thank the staff there and the staff of Bristol Hospice as well as that of Gentle Shepherd Home Care for their care and compassion during the end of her life. A funeral service for Natalie will be held at Broadmoor Community Church at a time to be determined this summer. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Broadmoor Community Church, 315 Lake Avenue, Colorado Springs,Colorado.