Thomas W. Adams

Dr. Thomas William Adams (Tom), 94, loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, pediatrician, and man of many talents, died on August 11, 2025, in Exeter, NH, after a long and full life.

Born on May 8, 1931, to parents John Goldthwaite and Ruth Hobill Adams, the middle of three children, Tom grew up in Salem, MA. He attended Phillips Exeter Academy where he excelled in the sciences, Latin, languages, poetry, and rowed varsity crew. He graduated from Harvard University in 1953, and Harvard Medical School in 1957 after completing his residency at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Tom married Marion Thompson Adams (Mimi) in 1956 in Charlotte, Vermont, and lived in Boston, MA. In 1959, Tom was accepted into the Berry Plan, which allowed him to choose the U.S. Air Force as his place to serve. He was then stationed in Ankara, Turkey, as the American Chief of Pediatrics, where he and Mimi lived for 2-½ years and experienced some of the best adventures of their lives exploring the surrounding areas. In 1963 they settled in Hamilton, MA, to raise their growing family of 4 children where they stayed for 42 years.

Outside of pediatrics, Tom enjoyed spending time in nature, particularly at their peaceful cabin in Sharon, VT. He adored trees and was deeply knowledgeable about them; he grew and nurtured all kinds of plants, especially orchids, daylilies and clivias. He enjoyed being creative with writing, art, music, and cooking; sang in choirs and men’s groups, made tons of pottery, and did the NYT crossword puzzle every day. He also created mosaic tables, stained glass, woodcuts, and driftwood collages. For 25 years, Tom and Mimi also hosted numerous family members and friends in Sanibel, Florida.

During his retirement, Tom was active in committees at the Ridge at Riverwoods, a continuing care retirement community, in Exeter, NH, where he and Mimi developed many wonderful friendships. Tom worked with his friends to spearhead the design and implementation of an Arboretum with over 60 trees at the Riverwoods campus. He also founded a pottery studio there. Tom and Mimi were married for 66 years.

Tom (Papa) is survived by his three children, Hayward Thompson Adams and his partner, Elizabeth Coughlan of Kennebunk, ME, William Goldthwaite Adams and his wife Amy Singleton Adams of Wayland, MA, and Katharine Adams Reynolds and her husband, Joshua Reynolds of Charlestown, MA; and leaves 7 grandchildren, Morgan Adams, Ian Adams and his wife Sophie Blease Adams, Ben and Alec Adams, Adam, Nick and Lizzy Reynolds; and 3 great grandchildren who will all miss him immensely.

He is predeceased by his wife, Mimi, and their daughter, Anne.

The family is planning a Celebration of Life at the Phillips Exeter Academy Chapel on October 20, 2025. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Arnold Arboretum or the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation.

Assisting the family with arrangements is the Cremation Society of NH, Hampton. To view Tom's Online Tribute, send condolences to the family, or for more information, visit www.csnh.com.