FISHKILL – Thomas W. Adams, a lifelong local area resident, died at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan on Sunday, October 28, 2018 following a 2-year struggle with cancer. He was 69.
Son of the late Willard and Freda (Dyer) Adams, he was born in Poughkeepsie on October 28, 1949.
Tom dedicated his entire life and professional career to serving the public. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve, retiring as Major in 2005 after 36 years of service. He served as Chief Clerk of the New York State Supreme Court in Orange County, retiring in 2010 with 27 years of service. Prior to that, he was Administrator of the Village of New Paltz; Deputy Superintendent of Highways for the Town of Newington, CT; and also worked for the City of Poughkeepsie Department of Public Works.
He holds a Graduate Certificate in Court Management from SUNY Albany and graduated from Marist College with a BA in History.
Tom was dedicated to serving his nation as well as his community. He was elected to the Fishkill Town Board in 2015 and remained a Councilman up until his passing. He had previously served on the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board in addition to working with the Dutchess County Planning Federation and Dutchess County Department of Veterans Affairs. He was also a member of the Reserve Officer’s Association, American Legion Post #203 (Beacon), the Knights of Columbus 445 Council (Beacon), and the Fishkill Republican Committee.
Tom enjoyed countless hobbies, but especially loved fishing, golfing, cars, and history.
On April 22, 2006, he married Loretta Yandoli in West Point. Loretta survives at home in Fishkill.
Additional survivors include his children: Courtney Menzies & her husband Chris of England, Christine Chadwick & her husband Troy of Fishkill, and Jamie Cevetillo of Fishkill; his grandchildren, Hugo& Isla Menzies; his aunt, Ruth Dyer Van Vliet; his uncle, Fred Dyer; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, James & Barbara Yandoli, Patricia & Joseph Perillo, and Thomas & Chris Yandoli; his former wife and friend, Kathy Adams; also many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other loving relatives & friends.
Calling hours will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, November 1 at the McHoul Funeral Home of Fishkill, Inc., 1089 Main Street, Fishkill. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 2 at St. Mary, Mother of the Church, 106 Jackson Street, Fishkill. Interment will follow at Fishkill Rural Cemetery. The U.S. Army will conduct Military Honors.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Dutchess County 10-13 Foundation, P.O. Box 352, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533 (dc1013foundation.org)
For directions and online tributes, you can visit Tom’s Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.
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