SUMMER 2014     

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Laguna friends share their 
memories of Jack...

“During a particularly difficult time in Laguna’s 

history, Jack came out of retirement to lead the 

school. He provided the continuity and clear-headed 

leadership that was crucial to moving through this 

challenging period. A few years later, I asked Jack to 

return to school to assist in our fundraising efforts. 

His relationships with the alumni and his genuine 

devotion to our school made him the perfect person 

to lead an effort which resulted in our being able 

to add new facilities and expand our financial aid 

program. I always depended on Jack for his unfailing 

wisdom and good will and I was never disappointed.”

 
-Arthur Merovick, headmaster emeritus

For the 12 years I attended Laguna, Mr. Adams was 

as integral an element of the school as our owl 

mascot. He presided over the school as I thought a 

headmaster should: he was friendly, but not overly 

so. He was respected, but never feared. He was the 

stable, central force that never changed. Despite 

his many responsibilities, he took the time and 

initiative to send a two-page, single-spaced letter 

of recommendation to Yale on my behalf. Although 

his letter wasn’t part of my official application (I 

already had my faculty and college counselor letters 

submitted) I can’t help but believe it had some kind 

of positive impact. Mr. Adams’ letter showed me the 

finest part of his Laguna character—that he cared

deeply about his school’s students, and would take 

whatever action he could to prove it. I will always be 

grateful for his help.”

 
-Geofrey Wyatt ’79, trustee and current parent 

“I’ll always remember back to when we first moved 

here. We would see Jack and Dotsy at Hope Ranch 

Beach picnicking with their friends the Merritts and 

the Doanes. They would always invite us ‘kids’ over. 

On the Fourth of July, the group would always have 

their little American flags waving, and other times

we all would get singing their Yale Whiffenpoof song 

along with all the college fight songs of their day. 

I also remember when my daughter, Michele, was 

receiving a leadership award in fourth grade, Jack 

commented on how tall she was and with a twinkle 

in his eye he suggested that the kids would have 

to do whatever she said, as she towered over all of 

them (especially the boys!).”

 
-Sue Birch, former head of lower school and trustee

“I had so looked forward to meeting Jack and 

learning all that I could from him about his part 

in the history of our school. Although I’m new to 

Laguna, it’s easy to recognize that the pride we 

have in our community rests on the foundation that 

Jack built. Laguna is a greater school because of 

his dedication, and I know how fondly he will be 

remembered.”

 
-Rob Hereford, head of school

I met Jack in 1970 when Barry Schuyler brought me

to Laguna to apply for a teaching position in science. 

We shook hands on meeting, and Jack said he’d 

heard good things about me and hoped I’d enjoy 

teaching at Laguna. As it turned out, our handshake 

was ‘the agreement’ since my contract (a single 

paragraph on a half-sheet of paper) was signed 

much later, once the school year was well underway.

As might be imagined, that decade (the 70s)

provided many administrative challenges as 

students everywhere (including LBS) protested the 

war in Vietnam, dressed in threadbare clothing, and

adopted Beatle hairdos. I think this was a difficult 

time for many educators, and Jack especially 

regretted the loss of decorum. Throughout it all, 

Jack remained a calm and understanding leader, 

rarely lost his temper, and often acknowledged that 

‘change is in the wind.’ Jack was always recognized 

as a gentleman, as well as a gentle man. He led by 

example and by setting standards he felt would best 

serve the members of our community. He was in 

every respect a shining example of what Tom Brokaw 

has termed ‘the greatest generation’ and I will 

always remember Jack with admiration and affection.

 
-Peter Lorber, retired faculty (1970-1997)

Jack Adams with 30 year 
veteran faculty member 
Chris J. Johnson

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9/5/14 5:20 PM