William Grant Adams

William Grant Adams passed away peacefully on March 23rd, 2022, surrounded by his loving family. Bill was born May 6th, 1939, in Dallas, Texas to Murrell and Will Elsie Adams. He grew up in Texas, Kansas, and Michigan with his parents and two brothers: Bob Adams (Janet) and Dick Adams (Carole).

Bill earned his Master of Fine Arts degree at Michigan State University where he met the love of his life, Kathleen Klocko, who he lovingly nicknamed “Klock”. They were married in 1964 in Redford Township, Michigan, and soon moved to Tucson, Arizona, where Bill had accepted a position at the University of Arizona as a professor of art.

Bill and Kathie enjoyed the desert and being a part of the Tucson community while raising three children: David Adams (Carol), Kristen Goulet (Patrick), and Douglas Adams (Belen). Bill cherished his 4 grandchildren: Lia and Claire Adams, and Reilly and Samuel Goulet.

Bill enjoyed a 23-year career teaching drawing, painting, and design, with a brief interlude as Assistant Dean of the College of Fine Arts, before leaving the UA in 1987.

Aside from his passion for art and teaching, Bill was an avid amateur radio operator. With his impressive “rig” and 60-foot antenna at home, Bill-KC7ZZ/N5PK connected with the globe and was dedicated to public service through his emergency message traffic network roles with the Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) and the Arizona Traffic and Emergency Net (ATEN).

Bill was also passionate about Arizona Wildcats basketball, motorcycle riding, finding the BEST huevos rancheros, and road trips aka “going exploring” - including one car trip during a teaching sabbatical in the 1970s that took the whole family from Tucson through Maine to Canada and back to see art museums, interesting places, and family members along the way – great core memories for the entire Adams family!

Bill’s lifetime of interests and talents in art, teaching, and amateur radio share the theme of “being of service”. Very much loved by Kathie, his children, grandchildren, other family, and friends, Bill will be greatly missed and remembered forever.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, April 18th at 10:00am at St. Francis de Sales Parish, 1375 S Camino Seco, Tucson, Arizona 85710. A reception will immediately follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill’s memory may be made to the American Radio Relay League Foundation https://home.arrl.org/action/Donate