Remembering Scott and Jean Adam, The Tidings, March 4, 2011

Posted on by

An American couple on a dream trip — sail the world’s seas, meet new people, share their faith in a friendly not pushy manner, experience all that life has offer. In late February, 2011, this Santa Monica couple was found shot to death after U.S. forces boarded their hijacked vessel.

Here’s the emotional story that I did for the Catholic weekly publication, the Tidings: 

 

Remembering Scott and Jean Adam

Friends recall gentle, down-to-earth people who wanted to combine their love of sailing with their faith.

By Brenda Rees

Nearly two weeks since the death of Scott and Jean Adam, the memories and inspiration of this gregarious sailing couple is strong in the hearts and minds of those who consider the husband and wife as dear friends, fellow parishioners, and inspirational Christians.

The Adams, who for the past seven years have been on an around-the-world-boating adventure and acting as “friendship missionaries,” were taken hostage by pirates off the coast of Oman in the Indian Ocean; they were found shot to death after U.S. forces boarded their hijacked vessel. Traveling with them were friends Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle of Seattle who were also killed.

Funeral services are pending at St. Monica Church in Santa Monica where the Adams were parishioners.

“There’s a definite emptiness here. When someone’s gone that’s when you realize how many people they touched by their presence,” says Ed Archer, who conducted the St. Monica’s choir that Jean sang at regularly for many years.

Many recall the gentle but outgoing Jean, a 66-year-old retired dentist and Scott, a 30-year veteran of the entertainment industry who, with a spiritual awakening late in life, took to studying at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena where he received two degrees: Masters of Divinity and Theology. Both had been previously married; both shared a love of sailing and both had a deep spiritual side.

Scott and Jean were married at St. Monica’s in the late 1990s and were, as Archer recalls, active participants: along with being in the choir, Jean was involved with small faith groups and Scott assisted with liturgies and even helped establish the fledging liturgical dance ministry group, Flight.

Archer remembers the generosity of the Adams who joined him and other adult chaperones in 2000 to bring 35 high-schoolers to sing at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. “They really wanted the opportunity for the kids to travel and sing,” says Archer who added that personally, the Adams were financially responsible for eight students to make that trip. They also secured donations so six others could go as well.

When the word came down of the Adams’ deaths at the hands of the pirates, Archer and members of the choir gathered in prayer. “We were feeling all kinds of emotions, anger, sadness, devastation,” he says. “What was especially hard was to see all the idiotic things people were posting online about Jean and Scott, how they were trespassing or pushing religion on others. They couldn’t be farther from the truth.”

Indeed, the couple’s goal in traveling the world from aboard their 58-foot custom-built yacht, dubbed the Quest, was two-part: combine their love of adventure with their faith.  Jean’s postings on their website (www.svquest.com), is a cheery colorful travelogue featuring photos, small stories, snippets of sailing experiences as well as their desire to distribute bibles – but only to those who ask for them. The couple started their six-month on and six-month off pattern of exotic travel followed by docking back in Los Angeles in 2005. Over the years, they visited hundreds of places including numerous tiny islands in the South Pacific, discovering small villages, churches, hospitals and schools.

Bibles weren’t the only things the couple handed out. In one instance, they gave up some of their gasoline so locals could fuel their lights for an evening soccer game. Someone requested crayons and pencils, so both Jean and Scott ransacked their boat to find every available writing instrument possible.  Sometimes they would speak at local Christian churches followed by dinner with the villagers and perhaps time enjoying local music, dance or other customs.

“What they were doing was ‘light evangelization,’” says Jim Muneno, St. Monica’s parishioner who, for 12 years, was in the same Faith Sharing Group with Jean. “Their intent was not to convert, but to spread the Word of God in whatever way they could.”

“It’s ironic because their mission was pretty low-key and only their friends and family knew what they were doing,” he continues. “Now, the whole world knows what they were doing. They never wanted to be famous or well-known but now, in a way, they are.”

For Muneno, the Adams’ deaths was particularly trying. “I had just written a song, ‘Thank You Jesus’ because our family has gone through some hard times and God had given us guidance and help along the way. On the day I went into the recording studio, I found out they [Jean and Scott] were killed. How could I record that song? We prayed for them but those prayers weren’t answered. It really is a challenge and we continue to struggle with it, but it hasn’t made us pull away from our faith.”

Muneno is not alone in his struggles. Dan Carlock sailed with the couple on two voyages, having met them originally at St. Monica’s, and he wonders how to reconcile the Christian ideal of forgiveness and yet demand that some sort of justice be done. “I don’t want people to sit back and not do anything about this; I don’t want what happened to Scott and Jean happen to any more people,” he says.

“I think of them as second parents,” he explains. “I admired how very low-key and in a down to earth way they supported the Catholic and Christian faith as they traveled from island to island,” he says. “I miss them terribly.”

Maureen Martorano counted Jean as one of her best friends, both met at St. Monica’s choir practices. “She was so much fun, great sense of humor and always upbeat,” she says. “[She and Scott] were the kind of people who took control of their lives and didn’t wait for things to happen. They went out and made things happen.”

Martorano said she last saw her friend at Christmastime when she came to visit her Faith Sharing Group. “She was so full of life and excited and some of us were worried for her because we knew the area they wanted to sail into.  She told us to ‘Just pray for me, OK?’ I really loved her as a friend and I’m sad to not have her around. But now, we have another saint in heaven.”

For many of the Adams’ friends who are grieving with loss, the reality of heaven after death – as well as memories of happier times – are what they turn to for comfort.

“I am extremely grateful to God that I could serve these two great people,” says Msgr. Lloyd Torgerson, pastor at St. Monica’s. “Jean was my dentist for many years and I have always found her to be a gracious woman. Scott was my friend and a blessing to our community. He was alive and joyful and wanted to continue his studies and gain a deeper appreciation for the life of Jesus Christ.”

“I really do believe they have won the crown for being good and faithful servants,” he continues. “They have given us an example of how to follow Jesus Christ. But I want to add, that to be people of peace, we must work to end violence in this world. Whenever that violence is.”

At the family’s request, anyone who would like to send cards may do so in care of St. Monica Church, 725 California Avenue, Santa Monica, CA, 90403.  Further, if anyone wishes to make a donation on behalf of Jean and Scott Adam, the family has asked that memorial gifts be given for the St. Monica Catholic Church Music Program.

SIDEBAR
Read at a recent prayer service at St. Monica’s for Scott and Jean Adams

“There is nothing that can replace the absence of someone dear to us, and one should not even attempt to do so. One must simply hold out and endure it. At first that sounds very hard, but at the same time it is also a great comfort. For to the extent the emptiness truly remains unfilled one remains connected to the other person through it. It is wrong to say that God fills the emptiness. God in no way fills it but much more leaves it precisely unfilled and thus helps us preserve — even in pain — the authentic relationship. Furthermore, the more beautiful and full the remembrances, the more difficult the separation. But gratitude transforms the torment of memory into silent joy. One bears what was lovely in the past not as a thorn but as a precious gift deep within, a hidden treasure of which one can always be certain.”
— Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Posted in The Tidings.

11,407 Comments

  14. [url=http://cialismedicine.com/]generic cialis soft tabs[/url] [url=http://crmeds.com/]prozac 60[/url] [url=http://phdtabs.com/]propecia order[/url] [url=http://viagrabuycheap.com/]viagra without prescription canada[/url] [url=http://healthsupl.com/]buy modafinil 200[/url] [url=http://pharmacyomni.com/]top online pharmacy india[/url] [url=http://incrhealth.com/]buy antabuse australia[/url] [url=http://cialisfmed.com/]buy cialis online visa[/url] [url=http://cialisdf.com/]generic cialis pharmacy[/url] [url=http://nolvadexpill.com/]nolvadex 10mg tablets price[/url]

  17. [url=http://tadalafilbestbuy.com/]cost of tadalafil in canada[/url] [url=http://sildenafilvtab.com/]sildenafil 150mg tablets[/url] [url=http://wbapharmacy.com/]best online thai pharmacy[/url] [url=http://viagracpill.com/]can i buy genuine viagra online[/url] [url=http://buyrxtablets.com/]clomid 5 mg[/url]

  22. [url=http://tadalafilworx.com/]tadalafil 100mg best price[/url] [url=http://pharmacyzeus.com/]online pharmacy delivery[/url] [url=http://nolvadexpill.com/]purchase tamoxifen[/url] [url=http://vdphealth.com/]can you buy furosemide otc pharmacy[/url] [url=http://cialisfmed.com/]online pharmacy cheap cialis[/url]

  23. [url=http://viagraiix.com/]100mg viagra price in india[/url] [url=http://pharmacyomni.com/]canadian pharmacy no scripts[/url] [url=http://cialisconnect.com/]price of cialis 20mg tablets[/url] [url=http://viagraxbuy.com/]viagra wholesale[/url] [url=http://accmeds.com/]where can i buy motilium[/url] [url=http://xrpills.com/]generic accutane price[/url] [url=http://viagrafmed.com/]real viagra online uk[/url] [url=http://tadalafilbestbuy.com/]tadalafil daily cost[/url] [url=http://cialisetabs.com/]tadalafil cheap online[/url] [url=http://cheapestsildenafil.com/]sildenafil australia online[/url]

  24. [url=https://aventolin.com/]ventolin prescription canada[/url] [url=https://wbapharmacy.com/]canadian pharmacy 1 internet online drugstore[/url] [url=https://cialissearch.com/]rx cialis online[/url] [url=https://xrpills.com/]accutane price in mexico[/url] [url=https://cheapestsildenafil.com/]order sildenafil canada[/url]

  26. [url=http://viagrahtab.com/]online real viagra[/url] [url=http://vdphealth.com/]lasix 30 mg[/url] [url=http://tadalafilbestbuy.com/]cheap tadalafil online[/url] [url=http://wplasix.com/]buy lasix online canada[/url] [url=http://thebestviagra.com/]female viagra pills online buy[/url]

  282. Cмотреть новая серия онлайн, Озвучка – Перевод TVShows, лостфильм, ньюстудио, HDrezka Studio Украинский Игра в кальмара 2 сезон 1 серия Проект «Анна Николаевна», Космические войска, Убивая Еву, Тень и Кость, Эпидемия, Бумажный дом – все серии, все сезоны.

  283. Magnificent goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you’re just extremely excellent. I actually like what you have acquired here, certainly like what you are stating and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still care for to keep it sensible. I can’t wait to read much more from you. This is really a great website.|

  286. Whoa! This blog looks exactly like my old one! It’s on a completely different subject but it has pretty much the same page layout and design. Excellent choice of colors!|

  288. It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d most certainly donate to this superb blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to fresh updates and will share this site with my Facebook group. Chat soon!|

  289. Its like you read my mind! You appear to know so much approximately this, such as you wrote the guide in it or something. I think that you can do with a few p.c. to power the message house a little bit, however instead of that, that is great blog. A great read. I will definitely be back.|

  295. diz protez ameliyatı, özellikle ilaç ve fizik tedavi gibi sık kullanılan tedavi yöntemlerinin yeterli görülmediği ciddi ağrılar çeken hastalara uygulanmaktadır.

  302. certainly like your website but you have to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling issues and I in finding it very bothersome to inform the truth on the other hand I’ll surely come back again.|

  304. of course like your web site however you have to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I in finding it very troublesome to tell the truth nevertheless I’ll certainly come back again.|

  305. Howdy just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know a few of the images aren’t loading properly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different web browsers and both show the same results.|

  315. Saç ekimi fiyatları saç teli bölgesinin yapısına, saç adedine, lokasyon, kampanya, referans hasta ya da teknolojik cihaz sisteminin gelişmişlik seviyesine göre değişmektedir. Saç ekimi fiyatları 2021 yüksek olarak piyasada gösterilen klinik ve hastanelerin hepsinin başarılı sonuçlar elde etiği düşünmemelidir. Araştırma yaparken özellikle kliniklerin tecrübesine, ilgili alandaki gösterdikleri profesyonel uzman kadro bilincine ve diğer hasta yorumları dikkate alınmalıdır.2021 saç ekimi fiyatlarının maalesef belirli bir standardı bulunmamaktadır. https://bit.ly/sac-ekimi-hb

  344. Antibiotika-assoziierte Diarrhöe bedeutet, dass nach der Einnahme von Medikamenten zur Behandlung von bakteriellen Infektionen (Antibiotika) drei oder mehr Mal am Tag wässriger, loser Stuhlgang auftritt.

  346. Şimdi dekorasyon ürünleri arasında en çok satılan ürünlerin tablolar olduğunu anlatmamıza gerek yok sanırım sizler de hemen araştırma yaparak toptan kanvas tablo imalatçılarına ulaşabilirsiniz.

  464. It is appropriate time to make a few plans for the longer term and it is time to be happy.

    I have read this post and if I may I desire to counsel you few fascinating things
    or advice. Maybe you can write next articles relating
    to this article. I wish to read more things approximately it!

  497. In line with my study, after a the foreclosure home is sold at an auction, it is common with the borrower in order to still have the remaining balance on the mortgage loan. There are many creditors who try to have all expenses and liens cleared by the next buyer. Nevertheless, depending on particular programs, rules, and state legal guidelines there may be many loans which aren’t easily settled through the exchange of lending products. Therefore, the obligation still remains on the debtor that has got his or her property foreclosed on. Many thanks sharing your opinions on this website.

  516. Pretty element of content. I just stumbled upon your site and in accession capital to say that
    I acquire actually enjoyed account your blog posts.
    Any way I’ll be subscribing for your feeds and even I achievement you get
    right of entry to consistently quickly.

  559. I’m really inspired along with your writing talents and also with the format for your weblog. Is this a paid topic or did you customize it your self? Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing, it’s uncommon to look a nice weblog like this one nowadays..|

  794. Thanks for the marvelous posting! I certainly enjoyed reading it,you may be a great author. I will make certain to bookmark your blog and definitely will come back someday.I want to encourage one to continue your great work, have a nice evening!

  804. Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to give something back and aid others like you aided me.|

  809. tahendusi stromectol adult dosing
    lunches ivermectin – stromectol in pills
    ivermectin 6 mg
     – does ivermectin kill fleas
    [url=http://ivermectin-3-mg.net#]ivermectin 3 mg tablets for human
    [/url] grapesman ivermectin injections

  831. It’s remarkable to pay a quick visit this website and reading the views of all friends regarding this piece of writing, while I am also eager of getting experience.|

  883. Howdy I am so grateful I found your weblog, I really found you by accident, while I was browsing on Bing for something else, Anyways I am here now and would just like to say thank you for a remarkable post and a all round interesting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read it all at the minute but I have bookmarked it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the great jo.|

  889. Hi there, just was alert to your blog thru Google, and found that it is really informative. I am going to be careful for brussels. I will appreciate for those who continue this in future. A lot of folks will likely be benefited out of your writing. Cheers!|

  903. Yesterday, while I was at work, my sister stole my iphone and tested to see if it can survive a 30 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now broken and she has 83 views. I know this is completely off topic but I had to share it with someone!|

  930. Does your blog have a contact page? I’m having a tough time locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an e-mail. I’ve got some creative ideas for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great site and I look forward to seeing it develop over time.|

  959. I think this is one of the most vital information for me. And i am glad reading your article. But want to remark on few general things, The web site style is wonderful, the articles is really great : D. Good job, cheers|

  974. Pingback: meritkiing

  976. Pingback: elexusbet

  992. cheap generic viagra [url=https://achetervgr.com/#]viagra pas cher en pharmacie [/url] acheter viagra sans ordonnance en belgique quelle difference entre le cialis et le viagra

  994. ivermectin indications [url=https://cheapstromtol.com/#]price of ivermectin [/url] what type of worms does ivermectin cover at what age can you use ivermectin on calves

  996. Pingback: Eurocasino

  1006. Have you ever thought about adding a little bit more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is valuable and everything. Nevertheless think of if you added some great visuals or videos to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with images and video clips, this site could undeniably be one of the greatest in its niche. Terrific blog!|

  1007. Pingback: madridbet

  1023. Pingback: meritroyalbet

  1025. Just wish to say your article is as astonishing. The clarity in your put up is simply nice and i can think you’re an expert on this subject. Well with your permission allow me to take hold of your feed to stay up to date with impending post. Thank you a million and please carry on the rewarding work.|

  1034. Pingback: eurocasino

  1042. Pingback: eurocasino

  1052. Hey are using WordPress for your blog platform? I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and create my own. Do you require any html coding expertise to make your own blog? Any help would be greatly appreciated!|

  1057. I’ll right away snatch your rss feed as I can’t in finding your email subscription hyperlink or
    e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Kindly permit me recognise in order that
    I may just subscribe. Thanks.

  1070. I’ll right away grasp your rss as I can’t find your email subscription link or e-newsletter service.
    Do you’ve any? Please let me know in order that I could subscribe.
    Thanks.

  1080. Thank you a bunch for sharing this with all people you really recognize what you are speaking approximately! Bookmarked. Kindly additionally consult with my web site =). We will have a link change agreement between us|

  1112. Pingback: meritking