Harry B. Adams
Harry Baker Adams died on January 22, 2020. He was the husband of the late Manette Fishwick Adams, and is survived by their three children, Lynne Adams of New York City, Susan Adams (Kent Mason) of Bethesda, Maryland, and Paul Adams (Susan) of Piedmont, California; five grandchildren, Zachary, Katie, & Sam Mason, and Jack & Zoe Adams; his brother, John Adams of Salem, Massachusetts. He was born in 1924 in Stamford, Kentucky, a son of the late Hampton and Adelaide Brettschneider Adams. He grew up in Frankfort, Kentucky, and moved to Saint Louis, Missouri just before entering high school. After graduating from Soldan High School in Saint Louis in 1942, Harry began his freshman year at Yale University. After freshman year he joined the Army Air Corps and served three years as a pilot. Following his honorable discharge he returned to Yale and completed his undergraduate and divinity degrees. After serving as pastor of churches in Missouri and Illinois, Harry joined the faculty of the Yale Divinity School in 1956, where he began a long and distinguished career of service to Yale and the greater community. Harry served in numerous capacities at Yale, including Associate Dean of the Divinity School and Horace Bushnell Professor of Christian Nurture. In 1986, he was appointed as Chaplain of Yale University and in 1987, as Master of Trumbull College. Following those assignments, he served as acting Dean of the Institute of Sacred Music and acting Master of Saybrook College. In addition to his service to Yale, Harry was also pastor of the Dingletown Community Church in Greenwich for many years. In his retirement, Harry continued to be active in the Yale community, attending events at Trumbull College, the Elizabethan Club and the Koerner Center of Emeritus Faculty. He was also a frequent volunteer at the Connecticut Food Bank. A Memorial Service will be held at Marquand Chapel at Yale Divinity School, 409 Prospect Street, New Haven, on February 8th at 2:00 p.m. BEECHER & BENNETT, 2300 Whitney Ave, Hamden in care of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations in Harry's memory be sent to the Connecticut Food Bank, 2 Research Parkway, Wallingford, CT 06492 or www.ctfoodbank.org.
Harry and I enjoyed each other’s company over lunch several times in the past couple of years while I worked for the Connecticut Food Bank. I appreciated his wisdom and true dedication to improving the lives of so many others through his charitable works and giving. He surely improved my life in the short time I knew him. Harry will be missed but his legacy of good work will live on in so many lives he touched. Gratefully, Bernie Beaudreau
I can still remember when I was in high school hearing a sermon that Harry Baker Adams preached at what was then the International Convention of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ.) I also remember how helpful and inspirational he was to me when I was at YDS 1957 to 1961. Eldon Irving
I have fond memories of Harry Baker Adams during my time at the Divinity School from 1965-1968. He will be missed. Thomas W, Shane
It saddened me to learn of (Master) Harry Adams passing. My fellow Trumbull College residents and I always knew the man and human being he was for his lifetime and our years at Yale. A consummate gentleman and scholar. Perhaps my favorite memory will always be burying the Osyssey II (sculpture in Trumbull College) and Master Adams showing up after we had rolled it into the giant hole we had dug saying, -I KNOW we all hate the Odyssey II, but you’re graduating here tomorrow!- Thank you, Master Adams, for being the man you were, supporting us in our discovery journeys, and showing us that (and I remember your telling this story as well) love in any form should be treasured. My life is better for having had you and Mrs. Adams as part of it. — Nan Rohrer, Y ’96
I would like to offer my deepest condolences to Harry’s family and closest friends. I thought you might like to see this photo from 1988 which is an image from Harry’s long life of ministry. This is when Harry was chaplain of Yale University – He, along with Margaret Farley and Kate Latimer, blessed my civil marriage. Harry and Manette were gracious, generous, and kind. Harry was inspiring and Manette was delightful. My son, Adam, is named for them.