FORESTVILLE - Judge Lee Towne Adams, honorably retired, died on Aug. 4, 2010.
He was born on July 12, 1922, the traditional Scottish "Orangeman's Day," which he happily observed every year.
He grew up in Silver Creek, and was graduated from Silver Creek High School. In 1943, he graduated from the University of Rochester, Phi Beta Kappa, with high distinction.
He acquired an early appreciation of the law when he went to enlist in the Navy during World War II. Having been born in Chatham, Ontario, he needed to prove his parents' American citizenship to enlist. This required getting an affidavit from a great-aunt who had been present at his father's birth. He served in the submarine service as an officer in the Pacific during World War II, where he received the Submarine Combat Insignia and other awards.While his submarine was docked in Honolulu for repairs, he met his future wife, Muriel Kathryn Stang, a beautiful and brainy Red Cross social worker, who hailed from Fergus Falls, Minn. It can safely be said that she had never met anyone like him in her Norwegian immigrant community! They married in June 1946.
During the summer of 1946, he and Muriel were living with his mother in Silver Creek, while he worked in the canning factory. He applied to only one law school - Yale - and was slightly worried when he realized how competitive the school was. He took the train to New Haven for his interview and wore his Naval officer's uniform. He was always convinced that, besides his excellent school record, his uniform helped his application. Upon graduation from Yale University Law School in 1949, he considered, very briefly, working for one of the high- powered law firms in New York City. But these firms offered only $3,000 for starting lawyers, and he felt that to be a paltry amount for a man with a family (his daughter, Nancy had been born in New Haven).
Instead, he learned that the law office in Forestville was for sale and, with his wife and child, he returned to Western New York. His aunt, Hazel Towne Shure, offered to buy him a sign for the law office. Her father, Judge Adams' grandfather, George E. Towne, had been a notable attorney in Chautauqua County in the early twentieth century. When the sign for the law office arrived, Lee Adams discovered that his sign proclaimed, "Lee Towne Adams, Attorney-at-Law." After that, he was always known by his full name.Then came the difficult years of establishing himself and earning a living to support his family. For the first few years, he did not own a car and would walk from Forestville to Silver Creek to catch the bus. He developed the ability to read while he walked, and, though people often offered him rides when they saw him on the road, there were times, including one ferocious winter snowstorm, when he had to walk the five miles to get home.
He practiced law in Forestville from 1949 through 1972. He was municipal attorney for 12 towns and villages and one school district.
Appointed County Judge in April 1972, he was officially elected in the fall of that year. Early election results showed him winning by 275 votes. Friends called him "Landslide Lee." After a final canvas of all the votes, his plurality increased to 302 and he was renamed "Avalanche Adams."
He was re-elected in 1982 with an 11,000 plus vote majority.
During his time on the bench, he presided over more murder cases than all previous judges and justices in the county put together. He retired under the constitutional mandate in 1992, December 31.He did not suffer fools gladly. Attorneys who appeared before him have regaled each other with stories of his 20 years on the bench. There was the time that he disarmed a woman with a shotgun in a local restaurant, authoritatively saying, "Give me that gun." During trials, attorneys were not surprised to hear, "The court will consider an objection if the defense were to make one."
He discouraged his daughters from choosing the legal profession, which some believe deprived defendants of three well-equipped defense attorneys as they had grown up arguing curfews, allowances, and homework with a great legal tactician. (Once, in a very great while, they actually won.)
After he retired from the bench, lawyers often stopped by to seek his advice on legal strategy. During the last seven years of his wife's life, as Alzheimer's robbed her of her unique and feisty personality, he took care of her. He learned to cook, cultivated some patience, and loved her fiercely. He fought Alzheimers as if it were opposing counsel, and while ultimately he could not prevail against it, he slowed its progress by the force of his will.
He read widely, loved history, and was well known for his photographic memory. During the years he practiced law before becoming a judge, he had a reputation for citing legal precedents from far-ranging sources, and, when checked, always being correct. It can finally be revealed that when opposing lawyers stopped checking his citations, he sometimes creatively invented them.He was a 60-year member of the Silver Creek Presbyterian Church, and an elder for more than 30 years. He was a commissioner to the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 1967, a trustee of the Presbytery of Western New York for six years, member of the Ministerial Relations Committee for 11 years, and a director and vice president of Presbyterian Homes of Western New York for six years. He was chosen Presbyterian Layman of the year of the Presbytery of Western New York in 1978. He was a 50-year member of Silver Lodge 757 F&AM, was currently serving as president of the Forestville Cemetery Association Board, a position he has held for many years, was a life member of Forestville Fire Department, a member of Westfield Royal Arch Chapter, Dunkirk Council, Lake Shore Shrine Club, Valley of Jamestown Consistory, Ismailia Shrine Temple, and Chautauqua Lodge 1007.
He was a member and past president of the Bar Association of Northern Chautauqua County and a past president of the Association of County Court Judges. He belonged to the J. Carter Knapp American Legion Post 953, Forestville, where he was past commander, Lake Chautauqua Post Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Submarine Veterans of World War II and the Kosciuszko Polish Home.
He was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Muriel Stang Adams; his parents, Lee Eugene and Josephine Towne Adams; and his brother, Frank of Sandwich, Mass.
He is survived by his three daughters: Nancy, and her husband, the Rev. Dr. Mervin Fry of Bound Brook, N.J., and Arkwright, N.Y., Carol and her husband the Rev. Dr. Bruce Buchanan, of Richardson, Texas; and Jane and her husband William McNulty of Darien and Waterford, Conn. He is also survived by one brother, Richard Towne Adams of Tonawanda, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
His family and he appreciated the loving care of Fredricka Heinrich, Linda Cardot, Susan Cordova, Eileen Dunn, Keilen Korzenski, Naomi Torres, and Judi Diefenbach.
While he could take pride in many accomplishments over a lifetime of service and loyal friendships, legal strategies that turned a case, careful judicial stewardship of difficult and complicated cases, love of his country and church - he was proudest of the successes in life and love of his three non-lawyer daughters.Interment will follow in the Forestville Cemetery, where graveside military services will be conducted by members of J. Carter Knapp American Legion Post 953, Forestville.
Post Journal Obit and photo
He was born on July 12, 1922, the traditional Scottish "Orangeman's Day," which he happily observed every year.
He grew up in Silver Creek, and was graduated from Silver Creek High School. In 1943, he graduated from the University of Rochester, Phi Beta Kappa, with high distinction.
He acquired an early appreciation of the law when he went to enlist in the Navy during World War II. Having been born in Chatham, Ontario, he needed to prove his parents' American citizenship to enlist. This required getting an affidavit from a great-aunt who had been present at his father's birth. He served in the submarine service as an officer in the Pacific during World War II, where he received the Submarine Combat Insignia and other awards.While his submarine was docked in Honolulu for repairs, he met his future wife, Muriel Kathryn Stang, a beautiful and brainy Red Cross social worker, who hailed from Fergus Falls, Minn. It can safely be said that she had never met anyone like him in her Norwegian immigrant community! They married in June 1946.
During the summer of 1946, he and Muriel were living with his mother in Silver Creek, while he worked in the canning factory. He applied to only one law school - Yale - and was slightly worried when he realized how competitive the school was. He took the train to New Haven for his interview and wore his Naval officer's uniform. He was always convinced that, besides his excellent school record, his uniform helped his application. Upon graduation from Yale University Law School in 1949, he considered, very briefly, working for one of the high- powered law firms in New York City. But these firms offered only $3,000 for starting lawyers, and he felt that to be a paltry amount for a man with a family (his daughter, Nancy had been born in New Haven).
Instead, he learned that the law office in Forestville was for sale and, with his wife and child, he returned to Western New York. His aunt, Hazel Towne Shure, offered to buy him a sign for the law office. Her father, Judge Adams' grandfather, George E. Towne, had been a notable attorney in Chautauqua County in the early twentieth century. When the sign for the law office arrived, Lee Adams discovered that his sign proclaimed, "Lee Towne Adams, Attorney-at-Law." After that, he was always known by his full name.Then came the difficult years of establishing himself and earning a living to support his family. For the first few years, he did not own a car and would walk from Forestville to Silver Creek to catch the bus. He developed the ability to read while he walked, and, though people often offered him rides when they saw him on the road, there were times, including one ferocious winter snowstorm, when he had to walk the five miles to get home.
He practiced law in Forestville from 1949 through 1972. He was municipal attorney for 12 towns and villages and one school district.
Appointed County Judge in April 1972, he was officially elected in the fall of that year. Early election results showed him winning by 275 votes. Friends called him "Landslide Lee." After a final canvas of all the votes, his plurality increased to 302 and he was renamed "Avalanche Adams."
He was re-elected in 1982 with an 11,000 plus vote majority.
During his time on the bench, he presided over more murder cases than all previous judges and justices in the county put together. He retired under the constitutional mandate in 1992, December 31.He did not suffer fools gladly. Attorneys who appeared before him have regaled each other with stories of his 20 years on the bench. There was the time that he disarmed a woman with a shotgun in a local restaurant, authoritatively saying, "Give me that gun." During trials, attorneys were not surprised to hear, "The court will consider an objection if the defense were to make one."
He discouraged his daughters from choosing the legal profession, which some believe deprived defendants of three well-equipped defense attorneys as they had grown up arguing curfews, allowances, and homework with a great legal tactician. (Once, in a very great while, they actually won.)
After he retired from the bench, lawyers often stopped by to seek his advice on legal strategy. During the last seven years of his wife's life, as Alzheimer's robbed her of her unique and feisty personality, he took care of her. He learned to cook, cultivated some patience, and loved her fiercely. He fought Alzheimers as if it were opposing counsel, and while ultimately he could not prevail against it, he slowed its progress by the force of his will.
He read widely, loved history, and was well known for his photographic memory. During the years he practiced law before becoming a judge, he had a reputation for citing legal precedents from far-ranging sources, and, when checked, always being correct. It can finally be revealed that when opposing lawyers stopped checking his citations, he sometimes creatively invented them.He was a 60-year member of the Silver Creek Presbyterian Church, and an elder for more than 30 years. He was a commissioner to the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 1967, a trustee of the Presbytery of Western New York for six years, member of the Ministerial Relations Committee for 11 years, and a director and vice president of Presbyterian Homes of Western New York for six years. He was chosen Presbyterian Layman of the year of the Presbytery of Western New York in 1978. He was a 50-year member of Silver Lodge 757 F&AM, was currently serving as president of the Forestville Cemetery Association Board, a position he has held for many years, was a life member of Forestville Fire Department, a member of Westfield Royal Arch Chapter, Dunkirk Council, Lake Shore Shrine Club, Valley of Jamestown Consistory, Ismailia Shrine Temple, and Chautauqua Lodge 1007.
He was a member and past president of the Bar Association of Northern Chautauqua County and a past president of the Association of County Court Judges. He belonged to the J. Carter Knapp American Legion Post 953, Forestville, where he was past commander, Lake Chautauqua Post Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Submarine Veterans of World War II and the Kosciuszko Polish Home.
He was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Muriel Stang Adams; his parents, Lee Eugene and Josephine Towne Adams; and his brother, Frank of Sandwich, Mass.
He is survived by his three daughters: Nancy, and her husband, the Rev. Dr. Mervin Fry of Bound Brook, N.J., and Arkwright, N.Y., Carol and her husband the Rev. Dr. Bruce Buchanan, of Richardson, Texas; and Jane and her husband William McNulty of Darien and Waterford, Conn. He is also survived by one brother, Richard Towne Adams of Tonawanda, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
His family and he appreciated the loving care of Fredricka Heinrich, Linda Cardot, Susan Cordova, Eileen Dunn, Keilen Korzenski, Naomi Torres, and Judi Diefenbach.
While he could take pride in many accomplishments over a lifetime of service and loyal friendships, legal strategies that turned a case, careful judicial stewardship of difficult and complicated cases, love of his country and church - he was proudest of the successes in life and love of his three non-lawyer daughters.Interment will follow in the Forestville Cemetery, where graveside military services will be conducted by members of J. Carter Knapp American Legion Post 953, Forestville.
Post Journal Obit and photo
FORESTVILLE - Judge Lee Towne Adams, honorably retired, died on Aug. 4, 2010.
He was born on July 12, 1922, the traditional Scottish "Orangeman's Day," which he happily observed every year.
He grew up in Silver Creek, and was graduated from Silver Creek High School. In 1943, he graduated from the University of Rochester, Phi Beta Kappa, with high distinction.
He acquired an early appreciation of the law when he went to enlist in the Navy during World War II. Having been born in Chatham, Ontario, he needed to prove his parents' American citizenship to enlist. This required getting an affidavit from a great-aunt who had been present at his father's birth. He served in the submarine service as an officer in the Pacific during World War II, where he received the Submarine Combat Insignia and other awards.While his submarine was docked in Honolulu for repairs, he met his future wife, Muriel Kathryn Stang, a beautiful and brainy Red Cross social worker, who hailed from Fergus Falls, Minn. It can safely be said that she had never met anyone like him in her Norwegian immigrant community! They married in June 1946.
During the summer of 1946, he and Muriel were living with his mother in Silver Creek, while he worked in the canning factory. He applied to only one law school - Yale - and was slightly worried when he realized how competitive the school was. He took the train to New Haven for his interview and wore his Naval officer's uniform. He was always convinced that, besides his excellent school record, his uniform helped his application. Upon graduation from Yale University Law School in 1949, he considered, very briefly, working for one of the high- powered law firms in New York City. But these firms offered only $3,000 for starting lawyers, and he felt that to be a paltry amount for a man with a family (his daughter, Nancy had been born in New Haven).
Instead, he learned that the law office in Forestville was for sale and, with his wife and child, he returned to Western New York. His aunt, Hazel Towne Shure, offered to buy him a sign for the law office. Her father, Judge Adams' grandfather, George E. Towne, had been a notable attorney in Chautauqua County in the early twentieth century. When the sign for the law office arrived, Lee Adams discovered that his sign proclaimed, "Lee Towne Adams, Attorney-at-Law." After that, he was always known by his full name.Then came the difficult years of establishing himself and earning a living to support his family. For the first few years, he did not own a car and would walk from Forestville to Silver Creek to catch the bus. He developed the ability to read while he walked, and, though people often offered him rides when they saw him on the road, there were times, including one ferocious winter snowstorm, when he had to walk the five miles to get home.
He practiced law in Forestville from 1949 through 1972. He was municipal attorney for 12 towns and villages and one school district.
Appointed County Judge in April 1972, he was officially elected in the fall of that year. Early election results showed him winning by 275 votes. Friends called him "Landslide Lee." After a final canvas of all the votes, his plurality increased to 302 and he was renamed "Avalanche Adams."
He was re-elected in 1982 with an 11,000 plus vote majority.
During his time on the bench, he presided over more murder cases than all previous judges and justices in the county put together. He retired under the constitutional mandate in 1992, December 31.He did not suffer fools gladly. Attorneys who appeared before him have regaled each other with stories of his 20 years on the bench. There was the time that he disarmed a woman with a shotgun in a local restaurant, authoritatively saying, "Give me that gun." During trials, attorneys were not surprised to hear, "The court will consider an objection if the defense were to make one."
He discouraged his daughters from choosing the legal profession, which some believe deprived defendants of three well-equipped defense attorneys as they had grown up arguing curfews, allowances, and homework with a great legal tactician. (Once, in a very great while, they actually won.)
After he retired from the bench, lawyers often stopped by to seek his advice on legal strategy. During the last seven years of his wife's life, as Alzheimer's robbed her of her unique and feisty personality, he took care of her. He learned to cook, cultivated some patience, and loved her fiercely. He fought Alzheimers as if it were opposing counsel, and while ultimately he could not prevail against it, he slowed its progress by the force of his will.
He read widely, loved history, and was well known for his photographic memory. During the years he practiced law before becoming a judge, he had a reputation for citing legal precedents from far-ranging sources, and, when checked, always being correct. It can finally be revealed that when opposing lawyers stopped checking his citations, he sometimes creatively invented them.He was a 60-year member of the Silver Creek Presbyterian Church, and an elder for more than 30 years. He was a commissioner to the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 1967, a trustee of the Presbytery of Western New York for six years, member of the Ministerial Relations Committee for 11 years, and a director and vice president of Presbyterian Homes of Western New York for six years. He was chosen Presbyterian Layman of the year of the Presbytery of Western New York in 1978. He was a 50-year member of Silver Lodge 757 F&AM, was currently serving as president of the Forestville Cemetery Association Board, a position he has held for many years, was a life member of Forestville Fire Department, a member of Westfield Royal Arch Chapter, Dunkirk Council, Lake Shore Shrine Club, Valley of Jamestown Consistory, Ismailia Shrine Temple, and Chautauqua Lodge 1007.
He was a member and past president of the Bar Association of Northern Chautauqua County and a past president of the Association of County Court Judges. He belonged to the J. Carter Knapp American Legion Post 953, Forestville, where he was past commander, Lake Chautauqua Post Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Submarine Veterans of World War II and the Kosciuszko Polish Home.
He was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Muriel Stang Adams; his parents, Lee Eugene and Josephine Towne Adams; and his brother, Frank of Sandwich, Mass.
He is survived by his three daughters: Nancy, and her husband, the Rev. Dr. Mervin Fry of Bound Brook, N.J., and Arkwright, N.Y., Carol and her husband the Rev. Dr. Bruce Buchanan, of Richardson, Texas; and Jane and her husband William McNulty of Darien and Waterford, Conn. He is also survived by one brother, Richard Towne Adams of Tonawanda, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
His family and he appreciated the loving care of Fredricka Heinrich, Linda Cardot, Susan Cordova, Eileen Dunn, Keilen Korzenski, Naomi Torres, and Judi Diefenbach.
While he could take pride in many accomplishments over a lifetime of service and loyal friendships, legal strategies that turned a case, careful judicial stewardship of difficult and complicated cases, love of his country and church - he was proudest of the successes in life and love of his three non-lawyer daughters.Interment will follow in the Forestville Cemetery, where graveside military services will be conducted by members of J. Carter Knapp American Legion Post 953, Forestville.
Post Journal Obit and photo
He was born on July 12, 1922, the traditional Scottish "Orangeman's Day," which he happily observed every year.
He grew up in Silver Creek, and was graduated from Silver Creek High School. In 1943, he graduated from the University of Rochester, Phi Beta Kappa, with high distinction.
He acquired an early appreciation of the law when he went to enlist in the Navy during World War II. Having been born in Chatham, Ontario, he needed to prove his parents' American citizenship to enlist. This required getting an affidavit from a great-aunt who had been present at his father's birth. He served in the submarine service as an officer in the Pacific during World War II, where he received the Submarine Combat Insignia and other awards.While his submarine was docked in Honolulu for repairs, he met his future wife, Muriel Kathryn Stang, a beautiful and brainy Red Cross social worker, who hailed from Fergus Falls, Minn. It can safely be said that she had never met anyone like him in her Norwegian immigrant community! They married in June 1946.
During the summer of 1946, he and Muriel were living with his mother in Silver Creek, while he worked in the canning factory. He applied to only one law school - Yale - and was slightly worried when he realized how competitive the school was. He took the train to New Haven for his interview and wore his Naval officer's uniform. He was always convinced that, besides his excellent school record, his uniform helped his application. Upon graduation from Yale University Law School in 1949, he considered, very briefly, working for one of the high- powered law firms in New York City. But these firms offered only $3,000 for starting lawyers, and he felt that to be a paltry amount for a man with a family (his daughter, Nancy had been born in New Haven).
Instead, he learned that the law office in Forestville was for sale and, with his wife and child, he returned to Western New York. His aunt, Hazel Towne Shure, offered to buy him a sign for the law office. Her father, Judge Adams' grandfather, George E. Towne, had been a notable attorney in Chautauqua County in the early twentieth century. When the sign for the law office arrived, Lee Adams discovered that his sign proclaimed, "Lee Towne Adams, Attorney-at-Law." After that, he was always known by his full name.Then came the difficult years of establishing himself and earning a living to support his family. For the first few years, he did not own a car and would walk from Forestville to Silver Creek to catch the bus. He developed the ability to read while he walked, and, though people often offered him rides when they saw him on the road, there were times, including one ferocious winter snowstorm, when he had to walk the five miles to get home.
He practiced law in Forestville from 1949 through 1972. He was municipal attorney for 12 towns and villages and one school district.
Appointed County Judge in April 1972, he was officially elected in the fall of that year. Early election results showed him winning by 275 votes. Friends called him "Landslide Lee." After a final canvas of all the votes, his plurality increased to 302 and he was renamed "Avalanche Adams."
He was re-elected in 1982 with an 11,000 plus vote majority.
During his time on the bench, he presided over more murder cases than all previous judges and justices in the county put together. He retired under the constitutional mandate in 1992, December 31.He did not suffer fools gladly. Attorneys who appeared before him have regaled each other with stories of his 20 years on the bench. There was the time that he disarmed a woman with a shotgun in a local restaurant, authoritatively saying, "Give me that gun." During trials, attorneys were not surprised to hear, "The court will consider an objection if the defense were to make one."
He discouraged his daughters from choosing the legal profession, which some believe deprived defendants of three well-equipped defense attorneys as they had grown up arguing curfews, allowances, and homework with a great legal tactician. (Once, in a very great while, they actually won.)
After he retired from the bench, lawyers often stopped by to seek his advice on legal strategy. During the last seven years of his wife's life, as Alzheimer's robbed her of her unique and feisty personality, he took care of her. He learned to cook, cultivated some patience, and loved her fiercely. He fought Alzheimers as if it were opposing counsel, and while ultimately he could not prevail against it, he slowed its progress by the force of his will.
He read widely, loved history, and was well known for his photographic memory. During the years he practiced law before becoming a judge, he had a reputation for citing legal precedents from far-ranging sources, and, when checked, always being correct. It can finally be revealed that when opposing lawyers stopped checking his citations, he sometimes creatively invented them.He was a 60-year member of the Silver Creek Presbyterian Church, and an elder for more than 30 years. He was a commissioner to the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 1967, a trustee of the Presbytery of Western New York for six years, member of the Ministerial Relations Committee for 11 years, and a director and vice president of Presbyterian Homes of Western New York for six years. He was chosen Presbyterian Layman of the year of the Presbytery of Western New York in 1978. He was a 50-year member of Silver Lodge 757 F&AM, was currently serving as president of the Forestville Cemetery Association Board, a position he has held for many years, was a life member of Forestville Fire Department, a member of Westfield Royal Arch Chapter, Dunkirk Council, Lake Shore Shrine Club, Valley of Jamestown Consistory, Ismailia Shrine Temple, and Chautauqua Lodge 1007.
He was a member and past president of the Bar Association of Northern Chautauqua County and a past president of the Association of County Court Judges. He belonged to the J. Carter Knapp American Legion Post 953, Forestville, where he was past commander, Lake Chautauqua Post Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Submarine Veterans of World War II and the Kosciuszko Polish Home.
He was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Muriel Stang Adams; his parents, Lee Eugene and Josephine Towne Adams; and his brother, Frank of Sandwich, Mass.
He is survived by his three daughters: Nancy, and her husband, the Rev. Dr. Mervin Fry of Bound Brook, N.J., and Arkwright, N.Y., Carol and her husband the Rev. Dr. Bruce Buchanan, of Richardson, Texas; and Jane and her husband William McNulty of Darien and Waterford, Conn. He is also survived by one brother, Richard Towne Adams of Tonawanda, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
His family and he appreciated the loving care of Fredricka Heinrich, Linda Cardot, Susan Cordova, Eileen Dunn, Keilen Korzenski, Naomi Torres, and Judi Diefenbach.
While he could take pride in many accomplishments over a lifetime of service and loyal friendships, legal strategies that turned a case, careful judicial stewardship of difficult and complicated cases, love of his country and church - he was proudest of the successes in life and love of his three non-lawyer daughters.Interment will follow in the Forestville Cemetery, where graveside military services will be conducted by members of J. Carter Knapp American Legion Post 953, Forestville.
Post Journal Obit and photo
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