Mr. Roger Adams

Keri	Higginbottom	There is no hyperbole for me stating that Mr. Adams was the most profoundly important teacher/coach/mentor on my life. I eventually went on to become a teacher, myself, and it was with the spirit of Mr. Adams at heart that I made that professional decision. His support and wisdom during my formative years are still many of my dearest memories and It amazes me how vast his legacy spans.
Nico	Troccoli	After every morning run club, Mr. Adams would always give me and the other kids small gifts. They would vary from little running charms for shoe laces to fun pins we could use on our shirts. Mr. Adams always made others feel included and special around him. Something he continued with me even after I graduated. Sending me emails to congratulate me on my races and new PRs. His kindness and enthusiasm are things I will never forget, and will continue to remember, with every run I have.
Sarabella	Last	Mr. Adams is the best person that ever happened to me. Through his encouragement, his Running Club, and the 5ks he told me about I gradually started loving to run. Although I only knew him for 3 years, he has had one of the biggest impacts on me as a person and an athlete. I still remember his words. Run upright, hands loosely held, keep going. Morning Running Club is difficult because of how early it is in the morning, but Mr. Adams made every mile worth it. I miss you, Mr. Adams. You made a difference in my life.
Luke	Pinkel	I met Mr. Adams when I started 7th Grade at SAES. I joined the after school running club and Mr. Adams was hugely encouraging of me. The photo I attached shows Mr. Adams and some of our after school runners being silly after The Dammit Run in Los Gatos.
Stephanie	Palmer	To me, Roger's name evokes another: Brenda Thornburg. Roger Adams and Brenda Thornburg made an incredible team for so many years! They impacted thousands of lives over their 30+ years. (And parents as well as students!) They guided students morally as well as physically, always encouraging students to strive to do the "right thing". It wasn't really about P.E. Their mantra was about showing up to be the best person you could be. How lucky we all were to have them both!
Lily	Godkin	I’ve known Mr. Adams my entire life and hugging him the day I received the Ladd award has to be my favorite memory. I’ve been looking through my elementary school classwork and artwork and have found countless old cards we sent to each other. We will all miss you ❤️ Thank you for everything ❤️
Sandy	Foehr	In 1982 I became the AD & volleyball coach at Sacred Heart across the street. Since our athletes lived in the same neighborhoods we became fast friends, along with sharing 25+ years of enthusiastic rivalries. We supported each other in difficult times & celebrated each other's successes. In 1983 when I brought the idea of track meets to the league, Roger immediately said, "the Saints are in"...shortly after that he started his famous morning running club.   I'm so very grateful to have had the opportunity to hug Roger again at his 50th celebration. The students of St. Andrew's were truly blessed to have had Roger as their coach & mentor AND I was honored to call him my friend. Rest in peace, Sandy
Erik	Carlson	Roger was a beacon of light from the first day we met. He would say "Hey toots. How's it going?" Roger was always encouraging, supportive and taught me that Saint Andrew's was an incredible home. All I can say is that he was right.  I will miss him dearly and hold him forever in my hearIt was clear to me that Roger held decades of students vividly in his memory and heart. As a teacher, coach, and mentor, he had stories about everyone in his midst. As he shared those stories, he recounted the deep respect and enduring optimism he had for each and every young person. He modeled for his educator colleagues how to truly see the promise in people and how to uplift the entire community. Roger is one of the very best. I am grateful to have known him.
Khadija	Fredericks	Roger was a beacon of light from the first day we met. He would say "Hey toots. How's it going?" Roger was always encouraging, supportive and taught me that Saint Andrew's was an incredible home. All I can say is that he was right.  I will miss him dearly and hold him forever in my heart.
Chris	Scott	Working with Roger Adams was an experience that I will always treasure. It is not often that one gets the chance to work with someone who has served in the same position as you and done it so well for so long. Roger was always so giving of his time and experience. I will miss talking to Roger about different ways to help children learn how to become the best that they can be. Roger's sense of humor, knowledge of sports, and giving nature will never be forgotten.
Eva	Sullivan	Mr Adams always stayed at the back of the pack with me during the Friday runs. He would be in his car behind me cheering me on, and if it wasn't for him I would've never finished. Although I never joined his morning run club I was always there in the morning while they were stretching and he was always the first person to say good morning to me. His kindness is something that had left a lasting impact on me.
Ariana Katerina	Vergara-Johnson	Mr Adams epitomized selflessness and fairness. He taught and gave of himself every single day of his life. His impact on hundreds of human beings will be felt for lifetimes to come. I just hope he knew how admired, adored and loved he truly was. Bless you Mr A!
Hua	Wen	My son Lucas attended Saint Andrew’s in 8th grade and participated in the Running Club, where Mr. Adams was one of the faculty mentors. When Lucas was waitlisted for admission to Mitty and Bellarmine, Mr. Adams came up to me at morning drop-off, told me what a wonderful student Lucas was, and volunteered to write additional letters of recommendation to both schools in support of his admission. That was how I first got to know Mr. Adams, and I was deeply touched by how much he cared about each of his students and how willing he was to go out of his way to support them.
Mark	Patenaude	There will never be anyone like my friend and mentor Roger Adams. He was the adult every child looked up to…someone you could confide in when your parents wouldn’t listen. He was always there for you no matter how busy he was or no matter the subject matter. If parents only knew how impactful Mr Adams was to all of his children they would have celebrated and appreciated him even more.
Betsy	Hung	Dear Mr.Adams, You were such an important part of our lives during our years at Saint Andrew’s. Your love, faith in our children, encouragement, and guidance have stayed with us through the years. We love you dearly and will always remember you with gratitude and love. Rest in peace, dear Mr.Adams. You will forever remain in our hearts.♥️
Tiago	Pedro	Roger and i would talk about history and his time during his tour of duty and some of the fun things he did during that period of his life. His stories were full of life and unique that kept me engaged and asking more questions. He was also very blissful when I came over to help him through some work related software platform and thanked me whole heartily each time, then we would chat and drift off on life stories.
Allie	Kushnir	I met Roger Adams when I was ab 5 years old. I remember seeing him when I was in kindergarten & immediately knowing that he was someone I wanted to impress. When I was still little, I fell out of a tree during recess & he looked over just as it happened. He ran over, terrified that I was hurt. He walked me to the office & we chatted the whole way. I don’t remember the conversation, I just remember how safe he made me feel. For years, he’d bring it up. Like the moment had bonded us. But this was his whole thing - making children feel safe & loved & seen. At around age 10, he encouraged me to join the morning run club. Almost instantly, I could feel running embed into my DNA. Mr. Adams saw my potential, he cheered for me, he pushed me, he believed in me. But it wasn’t just me. It was all of us. He was tough & disciplined, & he was on our side. Unequivocally. Eventually, my family moved to IL. I was devastated. For 25 years after moving, we continued to write & I visited. (cont.) I mis
Leo	Kolmanovsky	There are teachers we remember for what they taught, and there are teachers like Mr. Adams, whom we remember for who they were and for the respect, kindness, and attention they gave to their students. I am very sorry to see educators like him leave. A truly good teacher gives children much more than knowledge or skills. They teach them to look at the world with curiosity, to trust their own perspective, to respect others, and to notice beauty. Sometimes I think that if every child had the chance to learn from teachers like Mr. Adams, many of the problems we face as adults might never arise. Perhaps that sounds idealistic, but I believe there is truth in it. I am grateful that Mr. Adams was one of my children’s teachers, and deeply sorry that future students will have one fewer teacher like him.
Sahaj	Shah	I first met Mr. Adams in 2015 during my 5th grade year, but it was in 6th grade that I truly got to know him and see the kind of person he was. He always put others before himself and made every student feel supported and cared for. Mr. Adams knew how much I loved basketball, especially Curry and the Warriors, and he always made time during homeroom mornings to talk with me about sports. He even gave me a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar autograph simply because he knew how much it would mean to me. I still keep it close and will cherish it forever. Even after I graduated in 2019, he continued to support me. When I started college, he connected with me on LinkedIn and congratulated me on how far I had come. I would also see him celebrating the milestones of other former students in their comment sections. I feel incredibly fortunate to have known him, and I will always remember his kindness, selflessness, and the way he cared for others.
Mathijs	Dirven	Throughout my time as a student at Saint Andrew’s, Mr. Adams was someone who truly cared about everyone and wanted to see everyone do their best. A fond memory of mine is during our P.E class where we would run circles around the gym. When someone would stop to tie their shoes, he would yell to the class: “shoe tier-er, shoe tie-er, shoe tie-er,” and everyone would have to run longer because one of my classmates was trying to get out of running. This simple but unique way of pushing us as athletes and students shows that he cared so much about seeing us improve and making us become the best versions of ourselves. Mr. Adams is someone who had an impact on everyone at St. Andrew’s and I will miss him very very much. We were so lucky to have him in our community and I feel so blessed to have had him as a mentor at Saint Andrew’s. Love Mathijs Dirven - Class of ‘22
Catherine	Stout	Coach Adams believed in my daughter before she fully believed in herself, and that gift changed the course of her life. He met her at St. Andrews in middle school, saw her talent as a runner, and encouraged her to join his running club. Like he did for so many students, he stayed in her life long after: sending notes of encouragement throughout high school and college, showing up at her meets, and cheering her on in person whenever he could. She went on to run track and cross country at Stanford and later as a graduate student at Georgetown. I truly believe Coach Adams's unwavering support, and the belief in herself he helped instill, laid the foundation for everything she's accomplished since, not just as a runner, but now as a professional. Our family will always be grateful for the role he played in shaping who she became.
Vicki	Velez	As a parent of both Christopher and Tara Velez, I feel so fortunate that our children blossomed under the tutelege of Mr Adams (that's how we all know and refer to him :-).  He helped raise the WHOLE child, teaching responsibility, ethics, kindness, giving back, respect for each other.  As I am packing up our house to move to Carlsbad, I found a file with a few of Mr Adams letters to our children.  Tears came to my eyes while reading them because he was so positive and so encouraging and always gave credit to where credit was due.  I know my kids have a special place in their hearts too!  And... to this day I still take the grocery cart back to the store front when done shopping.  It was one of those simple things that Mr Adams told us in chapel one day and it has had a long lasting memory as well as his strive to perpetuate kindness and respect. Rest in Peace Mr. Adams. XOXO Vicki Velez
Anu	Gade	My son (Neerav Gade) was in Mr.Adams running club. Mr.Adams was a wonderful coach & worked with all his students to bring out the best in them.  I still remember the day when Mr.Adams proudly talked about Neerav's running record (PR in middle school). Even after Neerav left middle school, Mr.Adams continued to monitor & encourage Neerav.  Mr.Adams was a friend to our family and we're grateful to have known him  Rest in peace Mr.Adams!
Randy	Simmons	Coach Roger Adams was so much more than a mentor, teacher, coach, and friend to our family—he was family. He inspired us, comforted us, laughed with us and cried with us, and gave us courage when we needed it most. Roger touched our lives in ways that will never be forgotten, and he is deeply loved and missed!  Peace in Christ, The Simmons Family (Becky, Erin, Vicki, & Randy)
Clarissa	Schreeder	Mr. Adams was my son Camden  (class of 2009 ) and  daughter Jorden ( class of 2012) students. He taught them discipline with encouragement and love. He lead  by example. I know we had many conversations around the dinner table about life  lessons we all learned from Mr. Adams; whether to always return the grocery cart,  that it doesn’t matter how fast you run, it’s important to just try your  best and your character always matters the most. My favorite parent teacher conferences were always with Mr. Adams because he reassured us that we were raising great human beings.
Kyle	Suhendra	I still remember the first morning running club in 6th grade with Mr. Adams. There were over 20 people, but he came up to me at the end of the run and said I had something. He didn't know it, but that is the reason why I came back the next week, and that led to me going to almost every morning running club until the end of 8th grade, missing only one. Because of him, I found something that I truly loved, and many of the most memorable experiences in my life have been because of this. He is probably one of the people who has had the biggest impact on my life, and I cannot imagine where I would be without him.
Paris	Scott	Why did Mr. Adams get chocked up and teary eyed each time he saw my daughter, Leela? Because he saw past the surface and deep into the soul of each child. He saw attributes that even parents failed to see, and that’s merely after a few interactions. Was this a celestial gift? Maybe; but Mr. Adams was for sure a celestial body of kindness, far beyond the norm of this world. He shall be missed by Leela and the Scott family. May his soul rest in peace.
Kevin	Brill	I started as a student at St. Andrew's the first year Roger started teaching.  From Kindergarten through Eighth grade, Roger made teaching PE look fun and exciting.  He taught and focused on the fundamentals because he knew that would make us better.  After graduating from St. Andrew's I went back and started coaching.  I got to know Roger in a different way and continued to learn from him.  The time spent with him was incredible, and I learned how a teacher can become a lifelong friend.  Besides being a teacher, Roger spent his summers painting the classrooms on campus.  He understood how a fresh coat of paint made a classroom easier to learn in.  During the summers he worked on campus, Roger painted every classroom three times.  His dedication to St. Andrew's was second to none.  For years he was the first person on campus and the last to leave.  He spent more days on campus than any other teacher or administrator.  He will be missed but never forgotten.
Kevin	Cali	Roger was one of the first friends I made here at SAES. I always looked forward to walking into the PE office first thing in the morning, and being greeted with a smile. Roger and I would talk about sports, past students, advisory activities and the occasional...Kevin can you help me with my computer! Roger had endless stories to share, he always prefaced a story with I know I am talking too much, or do you have time to hear this story. Truth is, I always had time, and I was always curious to hear a new Roger Adams story. I know Roger has made such a lasting impact on this community, and I very proud to say that I got to work alongside Roger.
Ryan	Nothhaft	As with so many who attended Saint Andrew’s, my relationship with Mr. Adams extended far beyond the confines of the school gym. He took an active interest in my development not only as a student, but as a young person navigating the academic, social, fitness, friendship, and family challenges that we all encounter throughout our youth. Mr. A celebrated our successes, no matter how big or small, offered invaluable constructive feedback when we needed it, and was always there with a pat on the back at just the right time. While Mr. A imparted so much wisdom throughout our relationship, one lesson in particular has stayed with me. After the first flag football game I ever played, he asked me how the game went. I proceeded to tell him all about my contributions, how I played, and how I felt about the game. Mr. A set me straight pretty quickly: it wasn’t about me. It was about the team. That lesson stuck. Even today, in my professional life, I firmly believe it’s always about the team fi
David	Wilson	Roger was a stand up kind of person. I truly enjoyed our conversations. He had incredible insight and really loved all people. I will miss him dearly, especially our breakfast's at Stacks.
Pam and Mike	Chu	Roger Adams was our daughter Katy’s running coach at St. Andrews. Katy ran in college and still runs regularly at age 23 - it became a lifelong love. Roger was the one who first got Katy started running. He encouraged our tiny girl and called her "the little engine that could”. He wrote encouraging letters and sent her trading cards and stamps (thoughtful gifts to make her feel special). He introduced Katy to the other coaches and runners in the area. Roger helped give our daughter a community and purpose. I used to call Mr. Adams the "heart of St. Andrews". Roger didn't help only my child. He helped many other children during his 50+ years at St. Andrews. We are thankful to have had Mr. Adams in our lives. He believed in Katy and touched all of our hearts with his thoughtfulness, sense of humor, and positivity.
Nadya	Carlson-Bowen	I met Roger 7 years ago at Saint Andrews as I was transitioning from a classroom assistant to becoming a PE teacher. I was very fortunate to have wonderful conversations with him in our PE office every (early) morning. He shared a passion for running, just like I did and he was also one who got me into running so much. What made the running program so great was you didn't have to be a runner but every kiddo who attended, everyone was always welcomed in. He praised kiddos for their work ethics and commitments to the club. Many of these students BECAME runners.
Thomas	Miller	Roger was one who confirmed in me why coaching and teaching are such important vocations. I am grateful to have known in the world of education a man of such strong character and integrity. Roger, thank you for being you--Peace and Blessings.
Ashlee	Kupor	Mr. Adams made such a positive impact on my life. Somehow he inspired me and so many other middle schoolers to wake up early for morning running club. He always encouraged me on those runs, and during PE, to do my best, even when I was one of the slowest students. I was so excited to be his advisory class, and honored when he nominated me as youth citizen of the year. His notes and letters were a highlight when I received them. He truly cared about each student, and I still think about him often. He made such a positive impact on me and many others - he really was a spectacular man.