Star Class Honoring the Past, Leading the Future
Thompson Ross Adams
1938-2024
Star Class life member Thompson “Tom” Adams, loving husband of Marilyn Adams, passed away on October 8, 2024, at Evanston Hospital, IL.
Tom was born on July 24, 1938, to Ross Adams and Olive (Thompson) Adams in Battle Creek, MI. He was raised in Battle Creek where he learned to sail on Goguac Lake. His love for sailing blossomed early on and continued to be a major part of his life, especially Star sailing.
Tom graduated Lakeview High School in Battle Creek and went on to graduate from Northwestern University in 1962, where he met his wife Marilyn (Thomas) Adams of Evanston, IL.
After Northwestern he joined the United States Coast Guard and served on the ice breaker Mackinaw in the Great Lakes and later joined the reserves.
On April 24, 1965, Tom and Marilyn married and moved to Winnetka, IL. They were blessed with two sons Ross Thomas and David Marshall.
Tom held several corporate positions before becoming an entrepreneur who started ARO Spars, a manufacturer of masts for racing sailboats, and Resource Economics, which imported chemicals.
Tom’s first love was always sailing. He started sailing Stars as a crew for Frank Raymond at Wilmette Harbor while a student at Northwestern in 1961. Several years later, he got his first Star boat 4667 and then went on to win the North American Championship in 5576 “Big If” at Gibson Island, Maryland, in 1973. He placed 4th in the 1975 Star Worlds Championships held in Chicago.
During his Star sailing career, Tom sailed with many legends of the Star Class, including Skip Etchells and Dick Stearns. He also competed in off-shore racing, having sailed several Chicago Mac races.
Tom was also active in Star class management, serving as technical committee chairman from 1982-1985. He was vice president of the International Star Class Association from 1985-1989. In addition, he was the race committee PRO for the1990 Worlds in Cleveland, the 1991 North Americans in Detroit and the 1993 North Americans in Wilmette Harbor.
Tom is survived by his wife of 59 years Marilyn (Thomas) Adams. Two sons Star sailor Ross (Jennifer) Adams and David Adams, three granddaughters Star sailor Dorothy, Ericka, and Casey and brother-in-law Ben Thomas.
Memorials can be made to the Star Class Legacy Foundation on the Star website or mailed to the Star Class office. The foundation creates endowments and scholarships to help support the Star Class continued growth.
