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Joyce B. Adams |
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| Joyce Adams died peacefully
Monday, March 10, 2008 at Bell Trace Assisted Living Center. Poet, teacher,
translator and librarian, she was born in Knoxville, Tennessee and grew up
in Arlington, Virginia. She lived in many other regions of the United States
as well as eastern and western Europe. After graduating from Oberlin College
in Ohio, she spent three years studying in Heidelberg, Germany, where she
gained certification as a translator. On her return to the U.S. she received
a Ph.D. in German from the University of Chicago, her specialty being
Medieval Literature. She subsequently taught German at St Xavier’s College,
Chicago. From 1966 until 1974 she and her husband lived in New Haven,
Connecticut, where she earned an M.S. in teaching English as a second
language. He was a Professor of Russian History, and in 1968 they spent an
academic year in Moscow where she became fluent in Russian. She revisited
Russia in 1973, spending six months there with her husband and son. The
family lived for several years in Davis, California. She subsequently spent
a year in Bulgaria on a Fulbright Teaching Fellowship. Joyce moved to Bloomington and subsequently pursued a degree in Library Science. Beginning in1997 she served as head librarian at South Arkansas Community College in El Dorado. Upon her retirement she returned to Bloomington, a place that she was very fond of. Here she did some part-time work teaching writing at Ivy Tech Community College. She was drawn back to Bloomington as a place where she had many beloved friends especially at Bloomington Friends Meeting and in literary circles. Joyce became a member of Bloomington’s Five Women Poets, published two poetry chapbooks and enriched our lives with readings from her poetry that reflected her spirituality, her enjoyment of nature, and her belief in peace and reconciliation. A committed and active Quaker, she gave wonderful service to the local meeting especially as the archivist and head of the library committee. Her courageous struggle with her debilitating illness, her faithfulness, and her ongoing search for spiritual pathways enriched the lives of the many who visited her. She is survived by her son Daniel Crummey of Fairfield, CA, and a wide family of friends. She will be greatly missed. Memorial gifts can be donated to the charity or cause of choice. |
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