Anne Barbara Adams

Ithaca, NY

Anne Barbara Adams died on August 16, 2014. She was 58-years old.

Annie was born in Hanover, New Hampshire on July 31, 1956 to El and Barbara Block Adams. She graduated from Newburgh Free Academy in Newburgh, NY, fourth in her class. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University in English and Latin, and a J. D. from Rutgers School of Law-Newark.

Her father died in 1993. She is survived by her mother of Newburgh, NY and her siblings: Steve of New Windsor, NY; Amy and her husband, Howie Elterman of Brooklyn, NY; and Sam and his wife, Barbara, and their children, Aaron and Shira, of New Rochelle, NY.

She leaves behind her beloved partner of 25 years, Lyn Donohue, and their home in Ithaca, NY. Annie will be mourned by her good friends, Peggy McKernan, Sue Levine, Elizabeth Schneider, and Cherie Donlin, among many others.

Annie loved dogs, and had several beloved pets, leaving a sad Miss Peabody for Lyn. All animals, plants and the earth were precious to Annie, and she campaigned against cruelty to animals, including road kill and factory farming. Over the years, she created large signs warning “BE CAREFUL OF ANIMALS”. Sometimes made of wood and stuffed animals, the signs were planted by the road in front of her and Lyn’s house, and her neighbor, Peggy’s.

Annie was passionate about saving the earth from pollution and the destructive exploitation of its resources. She was an advocate for food products unadulterated with chemicals and antibiotics.

Annie had enormous energy, until illnesses began to take over her body. She painted amazing constellations on the ceiling of her bedroom, bright stars against an indigo blue sky. She brought light into every room and love into every person she met. She especially enjoyed the families she helped as a crossing guard at Belle Sherman Elementary School. Her wit and intelligence remained strong until the end. Annie gave her many paintings to friends and family. She drew two books of humorous cartoons, Microbes and Chemotherapy, that she revised and improved until she could no longer hold a pen. She enlisted everyone who came to visit her in Hospicare to help collate and edit them. The chemotherapy cartoons are a testament to her courage, grace and sense of humor during her very difficult and painful cancer treatment. Additionally, with the help of her friend, Peggy, she finished writing her memoir. How she had time to be sick is a wonder. Annie’s absence leaves a great emptiness in our lives, but her spirit will live in our hearts.

We send heartfelt thanks to the chemotherapy nurses of the Cayuga Medical Center and to the staff of Hospicare.

Arrangements are being made by Lansing Funeral Home, with burial at Greensprings Natural Cemetery on Wednesday, August 20th, at 1:00 pm. Contributions in Annie’s memory may be made to Hospicare Palliative Care Services, 172 E. King Rd., and/or the SPCA of Tompkins County, 1640 Hanshaw Rd., both in Ithaca, NY 14850.