Joseph J. Adams Jr. teacher, mentor, friend
Joseph "Joey" Adams, 67, of Rehoboth Beach, ended his long, courageous battle with cancer Tuesday, March 28, 2017, surrounded by family and friends. Joey was born in Baltimore, Md., Aug. 5, 1949, to Joseph Adams and Katherine DiDio.
He graduated from Towson University in 1972 and began teaching art in middle and high schools - a legacy of teaching and mentoring that would last a lifetime. During his 28 years as a teacher, he also taught art at a community college, tended bar at The Last Chance in Columbia Md., honed his skills as a potter, coached softball and football, and sponsored a ski club.
Joey started working at the Bottle & Cork in 1982 and became a partner in the Highway One Group in 1990. He was a founding board member of Community Bank Delaware in 2006 and served as secretary.
He was fun-loving and adventurous and loved to travel with friends and his wife Mary Ellen. Joey loved his family and friends and will be deeply missed by all the people whose lives he touched. They will remember his optimism, his sunny disposition, his caring and interest in others, and his loyal and reliable friendship.
Joey liked sports and split his affection between the Phillies and the Orioles, the Eagles and the Ravens. He liked vodka martinis and working in the yard - and sometimes doing yard work while drinking a martini, but what he really loved was teaching and mentoring people to be their best at work and in life.
He was predeceased by his parents, Joseph Adams and Katherine DiDio. He is survived by his loving wife Mary Ellen Abendroth, his sister Kathy Acquavella and her son Matthew, and his stepfather Sam DiDio, all of Bel Air, Md., and too many friends to count.
Mary Ellen and her family would like to thank the many professionals at Beebe Healthcare, the Tunnell Cancer Center and Johns Hopkins University Hospital for their excellent care and support.
Visitation will be held Sunday, April 2, from 3 to 6 p.m., at Parsell Funeral Home in Lewes. A Mass of Christian Burial will be said Monday, April 3 at 11 a.m., at St. Edmond Roman Catholic Church in Rehoboth, followed by a celebration of Joey's life at the Bottle & Cork in Dewey Beach.
In lieu of flowers contributions are suggested to Beebe Medical Foundation, Tunnell Cancer Center, 902 Savannah Road, Lewes 19958; Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center - Dr. William Sharfman, Dept. Medical Oncology or Dr. Nita Ahuja, Dept. Surgical Oncology - 750 E Pratt Street, Suite 1700, Baltimore, MD 21202.
