SOUTHPORT — Thea Phyllis Adams, beloved wife of Kenneth Adams, died peacefully in her sleep at the family home in Southport, North Carolina aged 82. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, Thea was the only child of Jean and Theodore Jacks who instilled in her a sense of self-worth and confidence that stood her in good stead for her entire life.
Earning a degree in Marketing from New York University, Thea launched her career as a Madison Avenue Marketing Associate for R. L. Polk Marketing, soon becoming an Account Executive. Despite her stellar performance, she was passed over for promotion by a less talented male associate. In the first of several pivotal decisions, Thea set aside her resentment and moved to Aspen, Colorado, becoming an accomplished skier, even traveling to St. Moritz to pursue the sport, then returning to Aspen to become a certified skiing instructor.
Thea’s passion for cooking began in childhood helping her Polish paternal grandmother, Julia. This love of cooking resulted in her traveling to France where she attended the Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris and traveled through France, Spain, and Italy. She studied at the University of Perugia, through which she met the family of renowned winemaker, Giorgio Lungarotti. Thea was instrumental in introducing their award-winning wines to American markets.
Thea’s fearlessness was exemplified by her 30-day crossing of the Atlantic from Fort Lauderdale to the Azores on the 60-foot ketch, Papillon. As a crew member, she braved the elements to overcome the daunting challenges of an Atlantic crossing of over 3,000 miles. She was also responsible for provisioning the galley and preparing meals.
Leveraging her love of travel and hospitality, Thea became a freelance Tour Manager representing several prestigious travel companies, escorting clients around the globe. In 1978, Thea represented Travel Dynamics as Tour Director for a VIP group of doctors sailing from New York to France on Cunard’s Flagship, Queen Elizabeth 2, where she met the young officer assigned to this group.
It was love at first sight for Kenneth but not for Thea, who found him much too young and cheeky. Undaunted, Kenneth pursued her until she finally accepted his marriage proposal. They married in Hawaii in 1980, settling in Barbados where Kenneth had become Resident Manager, Cunard Paradise Beach Hotel.
Thea continued her travels, sports, gourmet dining, gardening, painting, interior design, and entertaining taking a break to raise her only child, Theodore. She rounded out her career as a sales associate for Coldwell Banker.
Thea leaves behind her husband of 44 years, Kenneth, their son Theodore, and his beloved Andrea and her two beautiful boys Nicholas and Sebastian of Woodland Park, New Jersey. Thea and Kenneth shared a love that transcended land and sea, embracing all that life had to offer.
A celebration of Thea’s remarkable life will be held at a later date.
Donations in her memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Alzheimer’s Association, or the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
