Linfield lost an important member of its community this past weekend when Donald “Don” Adams, a cleaning services technician who oversaw the Anderson, Elkinton and Grover residence halls, passed away.
“He maintained the entire building — all three of them,” said Cleaning Services Manager Tim Stewart. “The bathrooms, the showers, the vacuuming, the service requests, you name it. He loved this environment; it was energizing for him.”
“One of the things he said all the time, whether it was an emergency or just time to start work, he’d say, ‘OK, it takes a team — let’s go, let’s get it done!’” Stewart recalled.
He was warm, helpful, often the first on the scene for emergency service requests or to volunteer for weekend duty, said Associate Vice President Allison Horn, who added that she will especially miss his morning greetings that always made her smile and set the tone for a good day.
She also recalled his “smart-aleck” humor — for example, making jokes about the “2 Bros. Courier Service” when he and his brother Chris, who worked on Portland campus, would exchange items that needed to make the 50-mile journey between campuses. He loved working for Linfield and being very much a part of the team, Tim and Allison said, a love outpaced perhaps only by watching his grandson play football.
“He would travel all over to those games. Every game, no matter where — Grandpa was there, watching,” Stewart said. “We called him Teflon, because nothing ever stuck to him, he just let it roll off his back. He lived for going above and beyond, and that’s what he embodied here at Linfield.”
At this time, Don’s family is planning to celebrate his life this summer; details will be shared as appropriate. Grief support assistance is available via the Student Health, Wellness and Counseling Center, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and through University Chaplain Jeremy Richards.
