Hello, this is Thoren Washington Secretary of the Association of the Pupils of John Quincy Adams III, CSB. Here is the welcome greeting given at the Celebration of Life and Legacy of Mr. Adams.

Good Afternoon!

On behalf of the Adams-Mabanag families and the Association of the Pupils of John Quincy Adams III, CSB, Welcome to this Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Mr. Adams.

This event is to pause and reflect, reminisce, and rejoice in what John has meant to each of us and to the Christian Science movement that he has served faithfully and unselfishly for many, many years as an international speaker, teacher, and healer.

Several years ago, I met Mr. John Quincy Adams III CSB, or "John," as he would prefer to be called, at a lecture in Newburgh, New York. I can remember being captivated by his now-infamous depiction of Spiritual man, a hula hoop, and the human experience being a bucket of water. If you haven't experienced this inspired lecture, speak with me later, and I'll share the link.

John was a dear friend to my family and, for many of us, our Teacher and Practitioner. As taught in class, we learned that "All Christian Science treatment is given from the absolute. It is Mind realizing its own perfection and expressing it through its idea, spiritual man." We must ask ourselves, what do we know as the absolute right now?

How wonderful it was at our past Association meeting only a few months ago to see our Teacher take a stand against aggressive mental suggestions and move forward with an in-person gathering that was warmly welcomed and, some would say, long overdue.

Over the years, our teacher encouraged us to be strong by instilling wisdom and guiding us to the Truth. As we celebrate the life and legacy of our dear teacher, he would be the first one to remind us that John Adams has graduated from the mortal existence and is spiritually alive and well, and joyously laughing!

Thank you, John, we praise you and celebrate you today!

Hi, I’m Dylan and I’m John’s eldest grandson. Here is my speech from the memorial. 

My grandfather was a happy man. Whenever you were in a room with him, you felt his presence. He had a larger than life personality. It’s hard to even find words to describe who he was, but I think he had a lasting impact on everyone who he formed a relationship with. He was a man of strong faith with a warm heart. He was a person who loved seeing happiness in others. I feel so blessed and so grateful to have spent 31 years with him.

I remember when I was 8 and my brother was 6, he took us to Modell’s (the sporting goods store) and told us we could buy anything we wanted for Christmas that year…. This might seem like a normal thing, if it hadn’t happened In May. My grandpa always played by his own set of rules. Whether it was buying Christmas presents in the spring, or taking us to a parking lot next door and teaching us how to drive from his lap as children…. We never knew exactly what to expect, but we loved every minute of it.

I remember our fishing trips. None of us really enjoyed fishing. We were scared to put the worm on the hook or to take the fish off the hook. Me and my brother were vegetarians, so we didn’t even like eating fish. But we still wanted to go, because we all knew that any activity we did with him was going to be a can’t miss opportunity. He always tried his best to make every day we spent with him, one which we couldn’t ever forget. And we still cherish these memories today.

As I stated at the beginning, my grandfather was a truly happy man. I think he is someone who really appreciated his time here on earth. When I think about all my memories with him, the thing that always pops into my mind first is just the sound of his laugh. He had a loud and booming laugh, which you could hear from any room in the house. He loved to laugh and make the people around him laugh. I’ve been a Jets fan for a long time, and I always knew whenenver they lost I could expect to hear him on the phone laughing a few minutes later. Those phone calls used to annoy me when I was young, but now I really miss them.

I’m deeply grateful for all the laughs and love he shared with me for my entire life. I’m grateful for all the wisdom and guidance he always provided. I’m grateful for the fact he was able to meet another wonderful and loving person like Marivic, and make her part of our family. I’m grateful for getting the opportunity to travel to LA during the summer, and spend quality time with both of them in their lovely home. It was an experience I will always cherish.

Whenever we would say goodbye after we spent time together, he would always just ask me one question. “Are you happy?” Because I think that’s what truly mattered to him. I think his version of success wasn’t about money or materialistic things. It was about having love and happiness in your life. I feel a lot of that love and happiness in this room today, as we celebrate my grandpas life here on earth.

Thank you.  

Thank you so much for sharing John with us. What an amazing man and an amazing metaphysician. I feel like he saw so much more than what the physical senses suggest. He saw through this veil into heaven on earth. He saw the good in everyone and everything. He was like a father to me and I will never forget him or his teachings. I was truly blessed to be included in his circle.

Much, much love,

Laurie 

Dear Marivic,

There are so many wonderful memories of JQA, John Adams! He’s known for his florist shops throughout Manhattan. And those around-the-world CS lecture tours!

Anyone who was there will never forget the wedding of Marivic and John at the CS church in Tarrytown!! The radiant bride and beaming groom, the beautiful Adams family, with sweet and spirited grandchildren, the Moody’s from Martha’s Vineyard with Bill’s heartfelt readings, the crowd of happy guests, with Marivic’s ordained friend from college making it official.

John was one of the dearest people I’ve ever known. It’s been such a blessing to know John Adams! Our hearts are with you Marivic, and all the Adams family.

Love from Richard Glafke

Just say John’s name, and you immediately think of the qualities he expressed—kindness, warmth,  compassion, love, insightfulness, unselfishness…. It was a joy to work with John when I was lecture chair, and to again encounter his depth of thought when I attended Eighth Church NYC by zoom for a year during the pandemic. I’m glad for the happiness he experienced through his marriage to his beloved Marivic. Thank you John,  for brightening the world through your presence. It’s a comfort to know that you remain active in God’s service, and that you are blessing all in your current sphere. 

Dear Marivic,

I didn't know your husband John, but did speak to him on the phone several times as he was my sister Jean's practitioner.   Jean was a resident at High Ridge House in Riverdale for almost 7 months in 2021.

My sister was a lifelong member of the CS church in Woodstock, NY and held many positions there from Sunday school teacher to First Reader.  When she got to High Ridge House she contacted John and he agreed to work with her as her practitioner.    She was pleased that he visited her there, although they spoke mostly by phone.   John was a source of great comfort to her during those months and indirectly to me as well.   Jean's faith in C.S. never wavered her whole life and in John she found someone she could talk to about that faith.    Sadly my sister died in late August of 2021.    

I'm sorry to hear about John's passing and send healing thoughts to you and the Adams family.    Unfortunately I'm in Massachusetts and unable to attend the service you have planned, but wanted you to know what a positive and loving presence he was for my dear sister.    She so appreciated his warmth and  understanding of C.S. which he expressed every time they spoke.  I know she thanked him daily and I thanked him, too.   Now I get to thank you for sharing him with the C.S. community. 

With warm regards,

Susan Kirshenbaum

I want to share some thoughts about John.

When Marivic first came to our branch church in Pasadena, I was delighted to get to know her. When John arrived some months later, I was delighted to get to know him. His presence was like a bright light. I loved the truths that he shared on Wednesday nights, and on Thanksgiving Day, and found much inspiration from them.

John’s openness, his deep understanding and expression of love, along with his great sense of humor were easy to recognize and made it easy to get to know him. Although I have only known him a short time, he is and continues to be a wonderful friend!

John’s expression of love made an enduring impression on our church and on me, for which I am very grateful.

I was privileged to be sitting next to Marivic when JQA first noticed her across the Korean BBQ banquet table. He was smitten with "the look of love at first sight." I told her so later that night but she said that I was nuts. So the months passed and the slow & steady winds of of mutual appreciation and fun and world's away communications brought the moment of truth as she tried to coax John to tell me of their 'secret' engagement. Like I didn't know...he and I both laughed whilst she tried to catch up on the news. In a quieter moment, with tears in his eyes, he told me how much he loved her. I was privileged  to also be their 'wedding coordinator' which meant steadying her walk down the aisle of commitment to a very new life. They taught one another so much in that decade+ and their love gave new meaning to spiritual growth amidst many challenges which proved to me that 'Love, love alone is life', especially when that love is God endowed, maintained and sustained. John's tender smile, hearty laugh & twinkling eyes will be a forever reminder that in the Kingdom of God- All, all is well for you dear Marivic and for JQA's family as well as your tribe who loved him dearly. He has stepped over the line for an even higher mission and I know that your love supports him as does his love for you.   What a blessed journey you have shared with JQA and with all of us.

Dear Marivic, 

Thank you for letting me know about John's passing. Of course it made me sad but it brought back many, many memories. You said in your note that we went way way back and it's true...all the way to grade school in Columbus, Ohio. He was a wonderful friend and truly one of the funniest people I have ever met. He made us all laugh. We did get into "good trouble" especially with the high school principal, but it was all in good fun. Johnny and I left Columbus around the same time, eventually we both ended up in NY and reconnected. Both of our adult children and their children lived about 25 miles outside of New York city, within 15 miles of each other. I said to him "had we known that, we could have met at the mall!". We would occasionally go to dinner, a movie, or the theatre and it was like not much had changed except there was such a peaceful,  serene, calm about him that I had not seen before. I wish some of that had rubbed off on me but I moved back to Los Angeles. The next time I heard from him, he too had moved to a small town outside of LA and we said we would get together some day but we never did. Once again I'm so sorry for your loss and I send you my love. 

Marcia