Peter Boylston Adams

Peter Boylston Adams, 73, of Wimauma, FL and Scituate, MA, a direct descendant of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams, died on Friday, March 4, 2016 after a courageous battle with cancer for almost two decades. Peter was a graduate of Norwich University and a veteran of the Vietnam War, where he served as a helicopter pilot earning numerous medals, including the Bronze Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart with 2 oak leaf clusters, and the Air Medal with 30 oak leaf clusters. A good landing, he was fond of saying, was one you could crawl away from. A great one meant you could use the helicopter again, which he would wryly point out, he was unable to do on 7 occasions. After military service, Peter obtained his MBA at Boston University and had a successful commercial banking career in Massachusetts. Peter was a natural leader, passionate sailor, and influential friend who had an uncanny ability of making a permanent impression on everyone he met. An avid historian with a dynamic personality, he was often asked to speak as a representative of the Adams family. He served in prominent roles in many veterans' organizations, including the Boston Veterans Homeless Shelter. After his cancer diagnosis, which was attributed to his repeated exposure to Agent Orange, Peter became a vocal advocate for other disabled veterans. Peter is survived by his wife, Sherry P. Adams, three sons, Charles Francis Adams, Reid Boylston Adams and Rett McKay Adams, and six grandchildren. Services will be 11a.m. Friday March 11, 2016 at the United Methodist Church of Sun City Center, 1210 Del Webb Boulevard West, Sun City Center, Fla. Interment with Militatary Honors will be at Sarasota National Cemetery. A memorial service will also be held in Scituate, MA in late August. Memorial donations may be made to the Disabled Veterans of America or the Valencia Lakes Military Veterans Club, which Peter co-founded. Arrangements by Sun City Center Funeral Home (813) 634-9900