Lt. Col Maurice L. Adams Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Maurice L. Adams... loving husband, devoted father, distinguished patriot Maurice L. Adams was born on December 8, 1926 in New York City to the union of Elizabeth and Marcus Adams. He departed this life on April 4, 2019, leaving a legacy of integrity, love of country and devotion to family. Adams, one of two children, grew up in Harlem, N.Y., nearby Yankee Stadium and the field where The New York Giants played. His childhood was shaped with the West Indian culture of his parents and Harlem’s rich community of many of the writers and musicians of The Harlem Renaissance. Many of these famous artists taught at his junior high school by day and performed in Harlem clubs by night. The exposure turned him into an avid jazz lover of Duke Ellington, Ray Charles, Quincy Jones and other jazz greats. Growing up near Yankee Stadium and The Polo grounds ,where the New York Giants played, made him a life-long Yankees’ fan. However, baseball was not his only passion. Maurice loved all sports and followed local and professional sports, whatever the season. His military career began in 1945, after his high school graduation. He was drafted into The United States Army, where he served as an Infantryman and surgical technician. He then enrolled in Syracuse University, where he joined the university ROTC program. After graduating from Syracuse in 1951 with a BA in Social Studies , he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. The commission was the beginning of his 23-year distinguished career as an officer. During his exemplary military career, he was awarded several medals and commendations including the rare Bronze Star, the Air Medal and the Legion of Merit. Maurice was active in the military when he met his future wife and fellow New Yorker, Alice E. Hohn. The couple married in 1955 and their union was blessed with three children, Charlene, Marcia and Maurice Jr. The Adams family children grew up where Maurice was stationed: Fort Louis in Washington State; Stuttgart, Germany, Ft. Ord, California and Fort Huachuca, Arizona. He served in the Korean War (1953-54) and as a field grade officer during two tours of duty in Viet Nam (1961-1975). During the years between his Viet Nam tours, he also served as a professor of military science at the University of Cincinnati’s ROTC program. Upon completing his last assignment with the U.S. Army Intelligence School in Ft. Huachuca, AZ, he retired as a Lt. Col. in June 1973, completing 23 years of service and returning to Cincinnati with his family to live out his retirement from the military--but not the community. Retirement allowed Maurice to explore several jobs before settling down as a Social Studies teacher at Woodward and Aiken High Schools. He taught for 16 years before his second retirement and he continued to support the Cincinnati community. He was a life-long member of the NAACP, for which he worked as chairman of the organization’s political action committee and chair of group’s Armed Forces and Veteran Affairs committee. He also chaperoned the youth ACT-So group during NAACP conventions. Maurice also served on The Cincinnati City Manager Police Review Panel Committee to reviews racism complaints. One of his proudest affiliations was his work as local president of The Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. He worked hard to spread the word about the famous African-American heroes of World War II. For the past 30 years, Maurice has been an active member of The Church of the Resurrection parish council, assisting whenever asked in a myriad of ways. He also served as chairman of community activities for the former Grand Knight of St. Martin de Pores Council # 5624. Spearheading the Knight’s “Day At The Races ‘’ fundraiser was one of his favorite activities. In 2001, Lt. Col. Adams was inducted into the Syracuse University Hall of Fame Military Alumni Army ROTC. His final honor was in 2010 when Maurice and his wife Alice were honored with the Urban League “Glorifying the Lions Award.” He will be dearly missed by the countless lives he touched throughout the globe, in his classroom and in his community. His quiet, humble spirit will forever by cherished by his wife of 63-years, Alice E. Adams; his children, Charlene Brigham, Marcia (Powell Burns) Adams and Maurice L. (Belinda) Adams Jr.; one brother, Louis (Carla) Adams of Ft. Worth TX; five grandchildren, Alicia Brown, Maurice Adams III, Mosiris Adams, Adam Burns and Malcolm Burns; two great-grandchildren, Kingston Brown, Kaison Brown and special son Terrence Willis. “Uncle Maurice,” will also be dearly missed by a host of nieces and nephews.

Lt. Col Maurice L. Adams

December 8, 1926 - April 4, 2019