John Preston Adams, passed away unexpectedly at his home in Laurel, MD on Aug. 3, 2020. Born in 1955 to Richard A. Adams and the late Beth (Merget) Adams in Fort Meade, MD. John grew up in Skaneateles, where he found the love of his life and wife of 42 years, Holly King Adams.
After graduating from SUNY Oswego, he began his publishing career in 1979 as a Sales Rep for Little, Brown & Company and was based in Washington, DC. In 1986, he joined Crown/Outlet as a Sales Rep covering the South. In January 1995, he was promoted to National Accounts Manager, and thrived in that role for the entirety of his career with Penguin Random House.
Befitting of his career in publishing, John was an avid reader, and in particular historical non-fiction. He was a lifelong fan of the Baltimore Orioles and Baltimore Ravens, ever the optimist that they would actually win it all one day. Paramount to John was his family. John especially loved music, golfing, fishing, football, baseball, basketball, and politics. He cherished the time spent with his family at the Outer Banks, NC and on Skaneateles Lake. John and Holly mostly loved traveling to various states to visit with their children and grandchildren.
John is survived by his wife Holly of Laurel, MD, his three children, Alyvia (Jeff) Burkey, of Pittsford, N.Y., Jacob Adams (Jessica Conte), of Wilmington, NC, and Ashleigh (Troster) Byrne of Atlanta, GA and six precious grandchildren, Cecelia and Chase Burkey, Zoe and Delilah Adams, and Caroline and Charlie Byrne, and Kellan Conte. He is also survived by his father, Richard Adams of Skaneateles, his siblings, Sallie Allen, of Pasadena, CA, Andrew (Mary Margaret), of Skaneateles, Amy (Jeff) Rich, of Minneapolis, MN and Arben (Maureen) Adams of Catonsville, MD, his in-laws, Daniel (Michelle) King, Bradenton, FL, Zenon (Elysa) Mykytyn, Camillus, Thomas (Martha) Adessa, Auburn, N.Y., and his 20 nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his mother Beth and brother-in-law and friend, Patric L. Allen, both in 2012 and John M. Burkey, brother-in-law and friend on Aug. 3, 2014 and his beloved dog, Hank (aka “the Fella.”)
Services will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Make-a-Wish Foundation at wish.org. or Little Free Library at littlefreelibrary.org.
