Albert E. Adams

New Hampshire Hockey Legend Al Adams died in the early morning hours of September 7, 2010. He was born in Berlin, NH on September 3, 1926 to Joseph and Lillian (Fortin) Adams. He attended St. Joseph Grammar School and graduated from Berlin High School in 1944, where he was a three sport athlete, co captain of the varsity hockey team and senior class president. He joined the Marines after his 18th Birthday in 1944 and was mainly stationed in Guam until his discharge in 1946. While in the Marines he was on the Marines Boxing Team. Upon returning to Berlin, he and a friend, Walter Fournier, hitchhiked to UNH in Durham to be admitted. They were told they had to return to High School to obtain more credits before entering the University. Al returned to Berlin High for his needed credits, which he always recalls as his best school year, since he got to play 4 sports! In 1947 he enrolled in the University of New Hampshire. While there he was on the Student Council, President of Theta Kappa Phi Fraternity, played three years of varsity hockey and graduated in 1951 with a degree in Civil Engineering. After graduation he accepted a position with Brown Companys Engineering Department in Berlin and held that position until 1971. While working at Brown Co., Al organized and played softball in the company league and was the City of Berlin Tennis Champion several years in the 1950s. After leaving Brown Company, Al worked as an engineer on several construction projects throughout Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Al Adams association with the Berlin Maroons dates back to 1947. First as a player, he was a member of the fabled 1954 Maroons team that won a National Championship in 1954. In 1956, Al became player/coach and general manager of the Maroons. As General Manager, the Maroons won two more National Championships in 1967 and 1968. Because of Als commitment to the game of hockey and the Berlin Community, the Maroons were respected competitors in Senior AHA Hockey for the better part of a quarter of a century. In 1969, when the Notre Dame Arena collapsed under a heavy snow, Al Adams was one of the first to step forward to volunteer his time and expertise as a civil engineer to help rebuild the arena which stands today. Al served many leadership positions throughout his lifetime. They include being a Board Member and Executive Director of AHA New England, President of the Berlin Jaycees and Vice President of the State of NH Jaycees in 1956. He also received several honors and recognition. Al was honored by the Athletic Boosters Club of Berlin as Mr. Sportsman of the Year in 1963. In 1975, AHA New England honored him as Mr. Hockey of the Year and ultimately, in 2002, he was inducted as a charter member into the New Hampshire Hockey Hall of Fame. Sports and Family was his life. When he could no longer actively participate, he could be found watching a hockey, baseball, basketball or football game on television all year round. If anything was happening to a member of his family such as a wedding, birthday, or holiday celebration, the party was not complete until Al arrived. He is survived by his brother-in-law and best friend since High School, Leo Lemieux of Portland, ME; his sister-in-law, Elizabeth Adams of Berlin; 3 nieces, Rita Haskins and her husband, Mike of Manchester, NH, Pamela Lemieux of Portland, ME, and Pauline Y. Tibbetts and her husband Maurice (Mozes) of Berlin; 4 nephews, Roland Adams and his companion Patricia Whittington of Newmarket, NH, Ron Lemieux and his wife, Carol and John Lemieux of Portland, ME and Jim Lemieux and his wife, Debbie of Gorham, ME and several great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and many dear friends. He was predeceased by his parents; his brother, Omer Adams of Berlin and his sister, Maria Lemieux of Portland, ME. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, September 11, 2010 at 11:00 AM at St. Anne Church of Good Shepherd Parish, 345 Pleasant Street in Berlin. Interment will be in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Berlin. Relatives and friends may call at the Bryant Funeral Home, 180 Hillside Ave in Berlin on Friday afternoon and evening from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Notre Dame Arena, Inc., PO Box 338 Berlin, NH 03570.