Robert “Bob” Gary Adams of Fernandina Beach, Florida peacefully passed away on April 18, 2023, with his wife, eldest son, and step-daughter at his side.

Bob was born and raised in Bellevue, Ohio. Bob was 85 years young. He was the only child of the late Ruth Hirscher and Robert T. Adams, a railroad conductor. Sadly, Bob lost his dad at the tender age of 16 due to a boating accident on Lake Erie, but was fortunate to have had many wonderful memories of him. After the accident, his Mom took a job as a bookkeeper at the local hardware store. Much of Bob’s work ethic, keen sense of “saving for a rainy day”, and his love of travel, and hunting; came from his parents. Bob held part-time jobs throughout high school and college, all the while playing basketball at both schools and maintaining strong academics. As a young boy, Bob’s dad took a sabbatical from his railroad position and took the family on a road trip south, west, and north as far as Alaska and into Canada, where they enjoyed the Calgary Rodeo! Bob’s mother documented all the adventures they took and Bob loved sharing the stories and photos with his children and grandchildren.

At Bellevue High School, Bob was the Class Vice President in 1956. He played basketball, was an active thespian, and participated in symphonic band. After Bob graduated from Bellevue High School in ‘56, he went on to study Business Management at Heidelberg College (nka Heidelberg University) in Tiffin, Ohio. Bob met his first wife and mother of his three sons, the late Caroline Kohli in Tiffin. Upon graduation in 1960, Bob was hired as a Foreman at the General Motors plant in Dayton, Ohio, where he supervised 200 union employees. While living in Dayton and raising two sons, Bob earned an MBA from Xavier University and managed to have a third son during that time as well!

While visiting the in-laws in Clearwater, Florida in 1965, Bob had an unexpected opportunity to interview for a Personnel Field Services Representative position at the Guided Missiles Range Division of Pan American World Airways located in Cape Canaveral, Florida. He and his young family eagerly moved to Indian Harbor Beach where Bob’s career in aviation began. Bob’s Mentor, the late Donald Hunt, had great hopes and plans for his new hire. Bob aspired to all of Donald’s wishes and held various positions with increasing responsibilities throughout his Pan Am career, which began humbly at The Cape. In 1971, Bob moved to Cold Spring Harbor, New York and worked for four years at JFK Airport with personnel/labor relations responsibility over six regional offices covering 21 cities. In 1975, he was promoted to System Director, Labor Relations and his new office was located on the 47th floor in the prestigious Pan Am Building in Manhattan. Bob held that position until 1982 when he was promoted to Vice President, Human Resources. In this capacity, Bob was also responsible for International Labor Relations. When Delta Air Lines acquired Pan Am’s European routes and other assets in 1991, they acquired Bob as well. His Labor Relations expertise was just what Delta needed. Bob was the only Vice President retained by Delta. Bob served as Delta’s Senior Vice President of Human Resources and member of the Chairman’s Executive Committee until his retirement in 1998. During that timeframe, Bob envisioned and created Delta Global Staffing, a subsidiary (at the time) of Delta Air Lines. Bob served as the Chairman of the Board of DGS. Subsequent to Bob’s retirement, he worked as a Human Resource consultant for an aviation consulting firm and a major retail organization.

Bob kept very busy outside of the workplace throughout his working career and was active in a number of community organizations. He served for many years as a youth basketball and Little League coach, was President to St. Pat’s Little League in Huntington, New York, and was active with Boy Scouts in Cold Spring Harbor, New York, chairing various committees and events. While living in Georgia, Bob served as a member of the board of trustees of the Georgia Foundation for Independent Colleges, for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Atlanta, and for Literacy Action in Atlanta.
Throughout Bob’s life he loved playing golf, reading great books, and watching college football and basketball, especially March Madness, which he thought was THE greatest sporting event in the world! Bob was an avid traveler and instilled travel and adventures in his children and grandchildren. Nine years ago, Bob and Lynne reconnected and lived a storied life.

Bob is pre-deceased by his parents, Ruth and Robert Adams, and his second wife, Nancy Elliot.
Bob leaves behind his loving wife of 5 years of marriage and 47 years of friendship, Lynne Adams; his three sons and their families, Rob and Connie Adams and Laurel, Gary and his wife, Kaitlyn; Jim and Toni Adams, Amber, Ashley Adams-Hall and Tony Hall, Eli and Everett; and Abigail Adams-Johnson and Matt Johnson; and Mike Adams and Bryan Adams. Bob also leaves behind his three Bonus Children and their families: Kevin and Jen Conroy, Justin, Jasmin, and Skylar; Katelyn and Brett Schmitt Aiden and Mason; and Bryan Ballegeer and Tiffany Chamberlain-Ballegeer and Landon; his sister-in-law, Lois Zahn and all her family and brother-in-law, Rob Coyne and Kathy Occhipinti and their daughters. Bob was blessed with many Bonus Nieces and Nephews. Bob also leaves behind many wonderful friends, including college friends Paul and Kay Assenheimer of Lima Ohio; Delta Friend, Ron and Marci Allen of Atlanta, Georgia; Golf Buddies Ray and Marge Burns of Douglasville, Georgia and Charles and Linda Hawthorne of Atlanta, Georgia; childhood friends, Barbara and the late Terry Godfrey of Bellevue Ohio; North Hampton friends, especially Sam and Bill Worrell and Pat and John Riordan.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, May 6th at 4:00 PM at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church on Garmon Road in Atlanta, Georgia.

Until the day he passed, Bob lived by his mantra, “Gotta Have a Little Fun Every Day”!