Sonia Adams

Sonia “Sandy” Adams, aged 82, passed away on July 5^th. Sandy was born in Lancaster Pennsylvania on October 7th, 1936. She was the daughter of Houston Stokes Doriss and Lucy Ziskind Doriss. She was predeceased by her husband, Millard Adams.

Sandy had a lifelong love of working with children and animals. She was a founding teacher at the Fish Pond preschool at Newport Presbyterian Church in Bellevue Washington. She also served as a director of Christian education, a youth group leader, and a Sunday school teacher at Newport. In service of the natural world, she was a strong community advocate for preserving natural spaces and animal populations. She worked as a docent at the Woodland Park Zoo for many years, a time notable for her adoption of a disabled kinkajou. In later years, she became an avid bird keeper. Sandy will be remembered for her deep caring for persons in need, her ability to quickly establish lasting friendships, and her wonderful laugh.

Sandy is survived by her daughter Juli Adams of Seattle, WA; her son David Adams of Olney, MD; her partner Gary Isaac of Bellevue, WA; her grandson Felix Adams of Olney, MD; her granddaughter Annabelle Adams of Olney, MD; three nephews, Robert (Rie) Schwartz of Courtland Manor, NY, Peter Schwartz of Allendale, NJ; one niece, Natasha Schwartz of Brooklyn, NY; and, three great nephews: Hideo Schwartz, Ryoji Schwartz, David Schwartz and a great niece, Jenna Schwartz.

A memorial celebrating Sandy’s life will be held on Saturday, July 27th at 10 AM at the Newport Presbyterian Church, 4010 120th Avenue SE, Bellevue WA 98006, 425-746-6111. Donations in Sandy’s honor may be made to the Woodland Park Zoological Gardens in Seattle or the World Wildlife Fund.