Kermit D. Adams, Sr., 80, of Woodbury died January 9, 2016 after a hard fought battle with leukemia. Born on May 7, 1935 in Waterbury he was the son of William Kermit Adams and Ruth Fiero Adams. He attended Woodbury schools and graduated from Cheshire Academy where he played basketball, baseball, and sang in his high school chorus. He performed in the Southbury Playhouse Summer Theater. Kermit played minor league baseball and tried out for the Brooklyn Dodgers before he eventually went on to serve his country in the United States Marine Corps. He was very proud of his military service and recounted numerous stories over the years. From there, Kermit attended Bentley College and ultimately earned a degree in Accounting from Post College in Waterbury.
He had an entrepreneurial spirit. In 1962, Kermit co-founded and built the Tapawingo Ski Area in Woodbury. Kermit was the General Manager of Sega Sand and Gravel for 11 years, and he was a partner in Kest Equipment Corporation. He also built Paradise Sand and Gravel which later became a fish farm. Kermit went on to form Kersan Realty and Development which built custom homes and strip centers. In 1978, he built the Painted Pony Restaurant in Bethlehem with Sandra Adams which he owned and operated for 20 years. He established Adams and Adams Real Estate in 1967 which he operated in Connecticut and Rhode Island until his passing with his loving wife, Terrylee Adams.
Kermit was an avid golfer and enjoyed spending time at his beach condo in Watch Hill, Rhode Island where he was a member of the Watch Hill Yacht Club. He enjoyed fishing the waters off Watch Hill and Fischer's Island. He served on the Board of Directors for Larkin Square for many years before becoming their Project Manager. He was a 32 degree Mason and member of the Scottish Rite. Kermit was a past member of Euclid Masonic Temple and the Sphinx Temple of Newington. Kermit also had a true conservative streak and enjoyed a good debate over the politics of the day.
Besides his wife and partner of 32 years, he leaves 6 children: Marcy Russell and her husband, Tom of Bethlehem; Betsy Costanzo and her husband, Phil of Wrentham, MA; Lee Adams and his wife, Heidi of Brentwood, TN; Kermit Adams, Jr. and his wife Jenafur of Chicago, IL; Jaime Makuc and her husband, Paul of Litchfield; and Jerrod Kirchberger and his wife, Ali of Woodbury; 7 grandchildren: Tommy Russell, Jr. and his fiancé©e Amy, Spencer Russell and his wife Kelly, Timothy Costanzo, Liz Costanzo, Norah Adams, Mason Adams, and Michaela Lee Makuc and 1 great-grandson Sarj Russell. He is also survived by his sister, Susan Eisenhauer of Florida and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Nancy Meyerhans.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Fisher House Foundation, P.O. Box 97229 Washington, DC 20077-7804 or Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607.

Cemetery: Cemetery Not Applicable

Location: Munson-Lovetere Woodbury

Funeral: North Congregational Church

Services: A memorial service will be held on January 19, 2016 at 11: 00 a.m. at the North Congregational Church in Woodbury.