Esther Adams passed away Jan 17, 2023, at her home in Alamosa, Colo., following a battle with cancer.
Esther was the daughter of Margaret and Alan James Adams, born in Colorado Springs, Colo., September of 1935. She graduated from Colorado Springs High School and briefly attended Christian College in Missouri. She returned to Colorado Springs and enrolled at Colorado College.
Esther then met and married David Maier in 1955. The couple would find themselves in Wisconsin where Esther embraced her new home, becoming a “cheese head” rooting for the Green Bay Packers and tantalizing her friends with descriptions of cheese curds!
Esther graduated with honors from Wisconsin State University – Stevens Point, earning her B.S. degree in Secondary Education. She then attended the University of Wisconsin – Stout where she earned her Masters Degree in Vocational Education with an emphasis on Curriculum Development. She would eventually attend Virginia Polytech Institute and State University earning her Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Vocational Education.
Esther enjoyed a long and rewarding career in the education field, with experiences as an English instructor, a curriculum and staff development specialist and assisted writing faculty manuals as well as coordinating accreditation for self-study programs. She began teaching English and Speech at Columbus High School in Marshfield, Wis. She then advanced to teaching Applied English Skills at both Associate Degree and Diploma levels at various tech colleges around the state of Wisconsin. After divorcing, Esther would move to South Carolina, back to Wisconsin and finally back to her home state of Colorado. She would eventually retire from Adams State College in Alamosa.
Esther was held in high esteem by her former colleagues, one of whom described her as, “an excellent and serious professional who exemplifies the notion of putting theory into practice and translating jargon into useful knowledge and instruction.” Retirement didn’t slow Esther down and she used that talent with “translating jargon” in a side job of proofreading for a couple of court reporters within the Alamosa court system.
Moving to the San Luis Valley was a true homecoming for Esther as she has several ties to the area. Her great aunt Esther Glendinning was the post mistress at the Wagon Wheel Gap station in the 1910s. John L “Smiles” Adams owned the Rexall Drug in Del Norte and his kids, Esther’s cousins, all grew up in the Valley. Her grandfather, Robert “Buck” Adams, was associated with the Wildcat Oil Well, which eventually became the Hooper Pool. Esther long held an interest in swimming, as documented in her high school and college transcripts showing she took several swimming classes and was in the Aquatic Club. One of her favorite activities was to swim at the Hooper pool and reminisce on swimming there as a child.
Swimming wasn’t her only hobby, she loved to read, go to the Alamosa Library book sales and garden. She was proud of her home here in the SLV and visitors were treated to tours of the Stations of the Cross, the Great Sand Dunes, shopping in Creede and much more.
Esther was preceded in death by her mother Margaret, father Alan James and her son Thomas Maier.
She is survived by sister Ann Lyman, brothers John Adams, Robert Adams, daughters Kathleen (Rob) Shaffer, Ann Brandt, grand-daughters Lauren Shaffer (Charles Sexton), Sarah Comfort, Amanda Brandt, grandsons Orion Maier (Sid Corbin), James Shaffer, Nick Brandt, numerous nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind her beloved dog, Max, as well as many loving friends.
Cremation was chosen and a local celebration of life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting the SLV Animal Center Dumb Friends League (719-212-6500) or the Narrow Gauge Bookstore Cooperative (719-589-3464).
