Obituary of Robert Peter Adams
Our strong and beloved ‘Coach’ Robert (Bob) Peter Adams, passed away on September 7, 2024. Bob was born in St. Catharines on October 26, 1942 and attended Grantham High School. It was in St. Catharines where Bob met his love, Lillias (nee Weber) and raised his two sons, Robert (Janet) and Bruce (Debbie). While our hearts are saddened, Bob’s legacy will live on through his family, friends and community.
Bob was Department Head of Phys-Ed at St. Catharines Collegiate, teaching and coaching both rowing and football for almost 30 years. Whether he was teaching or coaching, Bob always made sure to give the same passion, attention and confidence to each and every student and athlete.
Those that knew Bob knew the strong values and lessons he passed along; kindness, patience and dedication. More than winning football games or medals at regattas, Bob was focused on instilling these values in the over 6,000 students and athletes he taught and coached during his time at Collegiate. Over the years, Bob has remained close with many former students and athletes who have never shied away from an opportunity to tell him of the impact he had on their lives.
The values he held dear were a product of Bob’s time as a lineman at Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he attended on scholarship from 1962-1966, as well as a coach, member and athlete of the St. Catharines Rowing Club, Ridley Graduate Boat Club and the Canadian National Rowing Team.
As a result of his dedication, Bob saw much success in his beloved sports, including being named the 1959 St. Catharines Oarsman of the Year, Winner of the Ned Hanlan Memorial Trophy (1961 and 1962) in Men’s Eights, as well as leading many athletes to countless football championships and winning Henley rowing medals; for The St. Catharines Rowing Club.
Perhaps his greatest athletic accomplishment was attending the 1960 Rome Olympics in the Men’s 4- event, as Canada’s youngest athlete at the Games. While you may have known Bob, it might have taken awhile to learn this about him, as he was always the most humble. And when Bob was quiet about his accomplishments, his grandchildren surely made up for it, and loudly.
His four grandchildren, Beth (Brad, Alice), Jeffrey (Kiara, Jonah, Ida), Meredith and Paige, were his biggest fans – and Bob, theirs. Rowers and athletes themselves, Bob never missed a race and was always there for a ‘You got this. Go get ‘em, kid,’ before they pushed off the dock. He was at every graduation and there for every milestone, celebrating with a grin and a big bear hug.
One of Bob’s most favourite places to be was at his cottage in Muskoka. His family has many fond memories of Bob sitting on the dock, casting a line, taking his grandchildren for a hike up to ‘Dog Rock’ and waking up at the crack of dawn to make everyone his famous blueberry pancakes.
The cottage was also a special place, as it’s where he taught his grandchildren to row, giving them the same love he had for the sport that they carried with them through their own high school and post-secondary rowing careers.
To his wife, Lillias, and two sons, Robert and Bruce, he was everything. A loving and devoted husband of over 60 years, a caring and dutiful father, a role model and a teacher of all life’s lessons. He will forever be our, and everyone’s, Coach Adams.
" Remember me, but let me go"
The Adams family would like to extend its deepest gratitude to Dr. Kim and the staff at West Lincoln Memorial Hospital for taking such good care of Bob in his final months.
Visitation for Bob will be Friday September 20th from 2-4 & 6-8pm and a Celebration of Life will be held at George Darte Funeral Home, 585 Carlton St., St. Catharines on Saturday, September 21 from 12pm-1pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to Doctors Without Borders would be appreciated by the family. Online condolences may be made at dartefuneralhome.com.
He never looked for praise
He was never one to boast
He just goes on quietly working
For those he loves the most
His dreams are seldom spoken
His wants are very few
And most of the time his worries
Will go unspoken too
He’s there…. A firm foundation
Through all our storms of life
A sturdy hand to hold to
In times of stress and strife
A true friend we can turn to
When times are good or bad
One of our greatest blessings,
The man that we call Dad.
By Karen Boyer