Larry T. Adams was born in Burlington, NC on June 2, 1947. His father, Marion Adams was an efficiency expert at Western Electric and his mother, Billie Owens Adams, a teacher at Wake Forest University. Larry moved to Boston in 1969, making many friends along the way. He was hired at Cambridge Computer Associates (CCA) to develop software and coach chess to the owner of CCA, Victor Oppenheimer. Larry was rated as chess Expert and played in many tournaments as a teenager. He met the love of his life, Susan Marks, in 1973 and they had 2 children, Nicole Adams Bottomley and Derek Michael Adams. Nicole is a high school principal and Derek is an attorney for the Department of Justice. After Larry and Susan founded Quality Software and ran it from their home for 15 years, Larry decided he missed managing a staff and returned to directing software development at Lotus, NewsEdge, and SupplyWorks.


Larry had devastating polio as an infant and spent a year in the hospital, followed by numerous surgeries. His father taught him to walk with crutches and braces by hooking him up to a clothesline to catch him when he fell. Larry always said, “You play the hand you’re dealt.” And he did it with aplomb.


He never let polio stop him from accomplishing anything he set his mind to, whether it was working on cars, building and sustaining his own software engineering business, or cooking gourmet meals on a weekly basis. Larry was a superb chef, responsible for countless family dinners loved by everyone that included fried chicken, onion rings, barbecue, homemade bread, fish and chips and Peking duck. He loved to cook from scratch and watched numerous cooking shows. He said cooking was all about nuance.


Larry was also a car enthusiast, starting with his first car at 16, a Renault, that he earned by a summer of typing manuscripts for his mother, to his 20 years of red BMW’s and finally his most recent mini cooper, a car that all four grandchildren adored.


Most of all, Larry was a person of stellar character and values who treated every person with respect and dignity. His sense of humor was legendary. His children and grandchildren gave him the greatest of pleasure and pride. His warmth and support of his family was greatly appreciated and he was loved dearly. He leaves behind a long line of friends and family who are better for having known him and having experienced his unconditional love.


Adams, Larry T. of Newton, January 16, 2017. Beloved husband of Susan Marks Adams. Devoted father of Nicole Adams Bottomley and husband Josh Bottomley of Ashland, Derek Michael Adams and wife Jennifer Adams of Fairfax Station VA, also loving grandfather to Grayson Adams, Ainsley Adams, Jameson Adams and Madison Bottomley. Dear brother to Sandy Hofacker and husband Bill Hofacker, and sister-in-law Jane Marks and her partner Irwin Young. Family and friends will gather for a funeral service at the Chapel at Newton Cemetery, 791 Walnut Street, Newton Center MA, January 19th at 11:00am. A more intimate burial service will immediately follow the funeral service at the Chapel. The family will have visiting hours from 3:00pm – 7:00pm on Thursday, January 19th and Friday, January 20th at their home in Newton: 60 Lewis St, Newton MA 02458. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Larry’s memory to Oxfam America or Doctors Without Borders.

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