Born Feb. 15, 1945, in Jacksonville, North Carolina to Russell C. Adams Sr. and Ruth Crosby Adams, Russell “Rusty” Adams WG73 grew up and attended high school in Savannah, Georgia. He was married for 43 years to Carol Bauman Adams, and they raised two children together: Elizabeth Hope Adams, and Russell Carlson Adams III. In the final years of his life, Russ enjoyed the company of three granddaughters, Clarissa Elizabeth Braun-Adams, Mallory Anne Braun-Adams and Juliette Lucinda Braun-Adams.
Russ attended the University of Virginia, and was immersed in many activities there, including the men’s rugby team, Air Force ROTC, University Union and P.K. Society. He was a prominent member of the Delta Phi fraternity at St. Elmo Hall, where he made so many lasting, life-long friendships. He graduated with a degree from the School of Architecture, majoring in city planning/urban and environmental planning. He always retained a fondness for Charlottesville.
Russ next earned an MBA from the Wharton School. He had professional success in the private and public sectors, and was noted as an outstanding leader and manager of people. He worked for 25 years as a manager and executive at Weyerhauser and International Paper. He then began a second career in city planning and community redevelopment, with impactful tenures in Bensenville, IL; Naples, FL; and Lake Charles, LA.
Russ loved restoring old houses, carpentry, playing the guitar, golfing, coaching and watching his children’s sports teams, and planning the next big adventure with his wife.
Russ was predeceased by his parents, Russell C. Adams Sr. and Ruth Crosby Adams; his aunts, Annie McKenna, Violet Parkstone, Rosemary Stott, Myrtle Marston; his uncles, Arthur Adams, Earl Crosby, Henry Crosby; his niece, Paige Neill; his nephew, Michael Cockrum.
Russ is survived by his wife, Carol Bauman Adams; his daughter, Elizabeth Hope Adams (Tracy Braun);his son, Russell C. Adams III; his granddaughters, Clarissa Elizabeth Braun-Adams, Mallory Anne Braun-Adams and Juliette Lucinda Braun-Adams; his sisters, Ruth McNerney (Tom), Carolynn Leonard(Bill), Linda Boyd (Ken); and several nieces and nephews.
