Dale Scott Adams

We are heartbroken to announce the death of Dale Adams, 72, of Harwinton. Affectionately known as “Doc” he was the loving husband to Mary Ellen Adams, his wife of 38 years and Father to Mikaila Adams Lagassie. He died peacefully, yet unexpected, at home in his sleep. Like his father, Dale was a man of few words, unless he had a story to tell. He always thought things through before he spoke. When he did speak, he was always clear and true to himself. There was almost always something to be learned. He was his wife’s counterweight. Dale was a musician, a piano player with a love of jazz fusion. He began piano lessons at a very early age with respected jazz musician Ray Cassarino at the Hartford Conservatory of Music. He attended summer jazz clinics at the University of Connecticut and was playing gigs by age 14. He had the opportunity to jam with great session players such as Joe Beck at the recording studio of a good friend in New York City. Dale’s musical career extended through Central America, Guatemala and El Salvador. He also took great pleasure playing alongside Ednita Nazzario in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, and with the then unknown artist Gloria Estefan at The Miami International Airport. He was instrumental in the formation of the Fusion Band, Rising Edge, where he was able to help write, arrange and play original music. He made lifelong friends during his time playing rock and roll with The K-Man Band. After meeting Cuba Gooding during a tour of the gospel play, “Be Careful What You Pray For” he played keys with him on occasion with The Main Ingredient. Dale also spent many years as musical director for the Grumbling Gryphon’s Children’s Theater. Dale loved writing and creating his own music but he was adept at sitting in with any musical genre, knowing how to enhance their sound. His musical talent has been described as “an innate ability to collaborate effortlessly and artistically, not intrusively - to make everyone sound better.”
One of his greatest joys in life was fishing in fresh or salt water. His Florida friends could tell stories for hours. He and Mary Ellen spent many hours on fresh water enjoying the quiet of nature while he fished and told her everything about every living creature that was surrounding them. Putting a good friend or young child on a fish just simply made his heart happy.
Although he may have rolled his eyes initially, he always embraced any animal his wife or daughter told him needed a home. Of those many animals that were brought home, his recent favorite was Bailey a Great Pyrenees. Dale was raised with Great Pyrenees, so although he had many beloved dogs in his life, it seems only fitting the last dog that was welcomed into his home would again be a Pyrenees. Dale loved and maintained the property and pond where he lived and was married. It was one of his greatest regrets that he could no longer properly maintain it because of his chronic back pain. It was the treasured home of his parents, and was the unspoken choice for family gatherings. It gave Dale great pleasure to host a clambake with lobster and corn covered by seaweed over an Applewood fire. Before he died, he was at peace knowing the property’s legacy would now continue with his daughter Mikaila and husband Adam to create new memories while embracing the history of what once was.
Dale was predeceased by his parents Arthur and Jeannette Adams, and Brother Craig. We believe he will be greeted in heaven by many other beloved family members, friends, and animals that had left this earth before him. Dale’s legacy is carried on by his loving wife, Mary Ellen, his daughter, Mikaila, husband Adam Lagassie and his adored granddaughter, Maeve. His brother Leigh,
nephew Tad and many loving cousins in Maryland, Vermont, Texas, Florida, California and a wide circle of friends grieve his loss.

Calling hours will be Thursday May 9 th from 5-7 at Phalen Funeral Home in Torrington. The family invites you to bring written memories or stories of Dale for us to cherish in a memory book. A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday May 10 th at Lourdes Shrine in Litchfield at 4:00. The service will be held in the Grotto weather permitting or the Chapel if necessary. All are welcome at both services.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dale Scott Adams, please visit our floral store.