Attorney Adam Gelof joins Tunnell & Raysor
Tunnell & Raysor P.A. welcomes Adam D. Gelof to the firm as an associate attorney.
Gelof will be focusing on real estate matters and is available to meet with clients in all five of the firm’s offices, located in Georgetown, Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach and Milford.
A Delaware attorney, Gelof comes to Tunnell & Raysor following his Jan. 1 retirement from more than 25 years of service as a deputy attorney general for the Delaware Department of Justice in Sussex County.
In Gelof’s tenure as a prosecutor, he was exclusively a criminal trial attorney, assigned predominantly to the felony unit. Over his decades of service he had various specialized assignments and handled countless high-profile criminal trials. In 2006, he saw the need that led to creating and serving as head of the Sussex County Special Victims Unit.
Gelof proudly traces his Delaware family roots back to his grandparents, who were chicken farmers in Sussex County. Both of his parents were Ivy League alumni with advanced degrees. His father also lived through the Depression and proudly served in World War II as a first lieutenant tank commander in the Army's 3rd Armored Division. Gelof attributes his foundation for success to his parents, who instilled values of work ethic, community and education.
He grew up in the Brandywine Park/Trolley Square area of Wilmington and then moved to a Hartly farm and graduated from Smyrna High School. His love of the Cape community became entrenched through his many summers of living in Rehoboth Beach, and working at and managing Thrasher’s French Fries on Rehoboth Avenue.
Following his graduation from the University of Connecticut, he spent two years as a business owner on the campus of Central Connecticut University before returning to Delaware to obtain his juris doctor degree from Delaware Law School/Widener University. Tunnell & Raysor employed Gelof for his first real law job as a law clerk almost 30 years ago. He proudly claims his best life accomplishment was meeting his wife Kelly Gelof in law school and convincing her to move to Sussex County, as she was already an accomplished and quickly ascending Philadelphia-based attorney.
Gelof’s true love and focus have always been family and the Cape community. Coaching became a passion, and he greatly enjoyed time spent with his two sons coaching their YMCA basketball, Little League and travel baseball teams. Now his passion for sports translates to traveling and being in the stands watching his sons play baseball for the University of Virginia and endeavor to climb the professional baseball ranks.
Gelof will be representing individuals and companies in real estate transactions at Tunnell & Raysor. "I feel like it's a natural full circle for me,” he said. “I started at T&R; I travel a good deal, but there is no match for my love of this community. I don't think you could call a better place home. I am so thankful for this opportunity to return to the best law firm in the area.
“My parents were extremely active in real property investment and development. I have a good deal of personal experience in real estate and believe it's in my blood. Focusing on real estate is something I've had to put on hold while serving our community with the Department of Justice,” said Gelof. “I have the experience, desire and ability to be there for someone looking to make an educated investment in this community. I will help them with both the small details and the big-picture perspective of people, business and places learned though my life experiences while advising them."
