Ruth E. Adamsky November 09, 2011
Bridgewater, NH – Ruth Elizabeth Holloway Adamsky died Nov. 9th at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Hospital from complications arising from cancer. She was 76. She was born in 1935 in Trenton NJ, the only child of Ruth Elizabeth Adams Holloway, and Colonel George Edward Holloway, Jr.
Her early years were spent in NJ, and at Fort Benning, Georgia, where her father was stationed during World War II. After the war, the family moved to Pittsfield, NH. Ruth became an expert skier, and took part in downhill and cross country races. She graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1952 at the top of her class and enrolled in the University of New Hampshire at Durham. At UNH she met her future husband, Robert Adamsky, of Auburn, Mass. They were wed in 1953 and started married life in Seattle, WA. There she was a sophomore at the University of Washington while her husband pursued graduate studies.
Their first child, Ruthann, was born in 1955. After her husband received a PhD in Physical Chemistry, they moved to Buffalo, NY. Ruth completed a BS in Mathematics at the University of Buffalo in 1957. She became a consultant to several school districts in NY state and used sophisticated algorithms to predict future school population trends.
The Adamskys moved to Needham, MA in 1958, bought their first house, and welcomed their second child, Edward. Ruth began her teaching career by substitute teaching in the Needham, MA schools. In 1961, they made another move to Andover, MA where they bought an antique, Federal-style home, a perfect setting for their growing collection of antique furniture and furnishings. Ruth and Robert acquired a love for antiques and in their spare time became antique collectors and dealers. They specialized in 18th Century American furniture, architectural hardware, and Oriental rugs and exhibited at many antique shows throughout New England and New York State. In addition, they bought and restored antique houses in Newburyport. MA, including one ancient house built in 1705.
Ruth began a full-time teaching career at the Pike School in Andover where she taught Science and Math. Later she moved to the public schools and taught Math at the Andover East Junior High. Teaching was her life-long passion and she was devoted to the task of instilling in her students a love of science and mathematics.
Ruth was also an accomplished musician. She played the piano and clarinet and sang in the Andover Choral Society, The Master Chorale, and the New Hampshire Music Festival Chorus.
In 1979, bothered by the ever-increasing traffic noise in Andover, another move brought them to Bridgewater, NH. There they bought a secluded tract of land with a spectacular view of Newfound Lake. Ruth designed a timber frame house on a stone foundation which they built with their own hands.
In 1980 Ruth became the Chairman of the Math. Department at the Newfound High School, a position she held until her retirement in 1990. At Newfound, she felt honored to be advisor to the outstanding students who participated in the Lakes Region Math League contests.
After her retirement, the Adamskys began spending winters in Longboat Key, Florida, and also traveled extensively in Europe, Asia, and Central America. They enjoyed river cruises and cruises on the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas. Other pursuits included ballroom dancing and attending the opera and chamber concerts.
Ruth is survived by her husband of 58 years, son Edward of Pelham NH, daughter Ruthann of Benton, Louisiana, and grandsons Daniel and Anthony. A celebration of her life will be held in June of 2012.