Charles "Charlie" T Adams

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Charles T Adams (Charlie), 94, of St. Petersburg passed away on February 5, 2025, at home surrounded by his children, their families and trusted friend. Charlie attended West Philadelphia High School and then graduated from Drexel University with his Bachelor of Electrical Engineering. He was preceded in death by Bessie C Adams (Wife) and is survived by his three children and spouses, Denise Santoleri, Tom and Helen (Nitsa) Edmundson, and Matthew and Marietina Adams. The grandchildren are Victoria Krause, Ian, Jared, and Kegan Edmundson, Anastasia and Nicholas (Niko) Adams. The great grandchildren are Salina and Madison Krause. As a young man, Charlie was an athlete and was a performance diver at the famous Steele Peer in Atlantic City from 1946 to 1949. Charlie served in the Air Force from 1950 to 1954 where he studied electronics and was a radar technician. After the military, Charlie attended Drexel University night school while working full time at University of Pennsylvania and raising a family. While at University of Pennsylvania he led the construction and operation of the Tandem Accelerator Lab. Through his research, he became a world leader in the area low energy physics pioneering the techniques and breakthroughs that enabled Sky Lab to discover deep space exploration at ultraviolet and super ultraviolet light frequencies that were not previously possible. From this experience he developed and maintained a business producing thin film windows for nuclear radiation detectors that provided a leap in performance efficiencies over all previous detection systems, cornering the market.

He became a national leader of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) as three-time Supreme Governor. Charlie greatly valued the impact of education as a pathway to success for the younger generation. That is why he championed the AHEPA scholarship program for District Number 4 for many years.

Charlie loved his family and always strived to teach his children to be self-reliant challenging them to never stop learning. He enjoyed scuba diving with his kids and summer vacations with his family. He invested in his friendships and local church. He was instrumental in the steering committee and construction of the St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Media, PA. In addition, he valued his Greek Orthodox background keeping he and his family active in the Greek community.

As empty nesters, Charlie and Bessie Adams moved to St Petersburg, FL where he once again became a very active supporter of the local Greek Orthodox Church and AHEPA. Charlie spearheaded the AHEPA Scholarship program in the St Petersburg area AHEPA chapter, expanding and leading it for many years. He and Bessie also explored the United States Continent exploring all 50 states. Wherever they went, they ingratiated themselves by never meeting a stranger.