Bernard S. Adams ’50

Bernie died Feb. 26, 2017, in Colorado. He will be remembered as a class leader, educator, family man, and devoted Princetonian.

He distinguished himself as our class president, Undergraduate Council president, basketball team captain, and winner of the Pyne Prize. He majored in English and belonged to Quadrangle.

After earning a master’s degree from Yale in 1951, he served two years in the Air Force before returning to Princeton as an assistant director of admission and English instructor. He then earned his doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh, where he stayed for seven years in various administrative positions.

Following a short stint at Oberlin College, he became president of Ripon College at age 38. During his nearly two decades there, he continued campus expansion and supported curriculum modernization. In 1987 he concluded his academic career as president of Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo.

He then moved to Colorado Springs to be closer to family and, not surprisingly, became involved as a civic and church leader. He always made time for younger family members’ sporting events and promoted outdoor activities. In family doubles tennis, his “Bernie Ball” thwarted the opposition.

Bernie is survived by his wife of 65 years, Natalie; children Deborah and David; and two grandchildren.