Death date: Apr 9, 2015
Richard “Dick” Adair, 91, passed away peacefully with family at his side on April 9, 2015. The son of Pete O. Adair and Helen L. Johnson, Dick was born in Wichita, KS and moved to California in 1928. He grew up in San Bernardino s Read Obituary
I am so sorry to hear of Dock Adair's passing. I went to school with Greg and Jan and knew the family. Thought Coach would live forever. May you rest in peace Mr. Adair.
I was fortunate to continue my education at SBHS after arriving from Guyana in 1971. I never had coach Adair for class, always had Ron Schremp. But two encounters with Coach Adair taught me the value of capturing the moment and to not hesitate to care while teaching.
I was late to class one day and was afraid to go in late so while hiding and waiting for the next period, Coach Adair ran me down and a lesson was taught. The other time during PE Basketball I fell and had the wind knocked out of me. Coach Adair called my name several times and stayed with me until I regained strength. He never considered leaving me.
Now I am a second career Pastor after 25 years in Higher Education Administration, believe it or not ending that career in Lindsborg Kansas not far from Wichita. We have lost a very special man. May you see the eternal light beyond the sunset! Bryan Katchay, Class of '76.
I was blessed to have had this wonderful man as my Grandfather. It's so amazing to read all of these kind words that people have to say about him. I am so happy to know that everyone who knew him thought that he was as spectacular as I did. I'm grateful for all of the love, support, and memories that I received from him over the years. I am going to miss him greatly but know that he will be watching over me.
Joann and I would like to extend our sincere condolence on the passing of Richard Adair. He was my basketball coach during my years at SBHS. It was a great time during the basketball seasons that coach inspired all the team to perform to their fullest. He was also a great educator and I was able to hear him talk at the Cal Poly Workshop and was able to implement some his ideas into the Physicals Education classes I taught before I retired. He will be truly missed. Thanks for everything you did for my classmates and SBHS.
Sincerely Yours,
Donald R. (Dick) Trolinger
Class of '56
I was one of those strangers that Coach Adair and his wife Louise met through their travels. I met them in 1999 in a little place called Homedale Idaho. A friend and I were getting ready to go play golf in Bend, OR and decided to play a local course before we left. We were paired up with Dick and Louise and really had a fine time. They were on their way to play in a tournament in North Idaho. I gave them my phone number and told them when they came back through to call me and I would take them to another local course. They called when they came back through and I took them to a couple local courses.
I did not think much about it when they left but about three weeks later I got an envelope in the mail with a handwritten letter and a stack of pictures of our golfing efforts. I wrote back to thank them and that started the letter writing. They visited the next year and we repeated the process. After a couple of years, the tournament that they had been going to in Northern Idaho had been canceled. But Dick and Louise still made it a point to come spend a week with me every year since. I would always take them to get mandarin chicken at a place called Orphan Annies. The owners got so attached to them that every time we would come in, they would not let us buy dinner. They always bought the Adair's dinner and would always ask about them if I went there without them.
Words do not express how grateful I am to have met Coach and Louise. To have spent time with them, to have gotten to know them, and to call them friends. They treated me like family from the start. I will miss Dick's letters, the calls and the visits. There are many people here in Idaho that will certainly miss him but I can tell you that I, along with many people who crossed paths with Coach, am a much better person for knowing him.
I am so saddened to hear about Dick's passing. My heart goes out to Louise, the love of his life and Greg, Jan, Susie and Pete. Always gracious and always smiling, those are my favorite memories of Dick. Love Shirley, Jimmy and Carly
Coach Adair, in the over 63 years that I've known the Coach, I have never called him Dick or Richard.
"Coach" was perfect. It reflected the great respect all of his athletes held for him.
He was my football and basketball coach in 53, 54, and 55 at San Bernardino High School.
I never knew then how much he wanted all of us to be a success in sports but he wanted us to be a success in life.
He really cared about each of us.
This past Christmas I received a card from Coach and Mrs. Adair and in the card Coach wrote "I'm really proud of you."
"WOW"
"Coach I'm proud of you too." You were a great coach, but even a better mentor.
Jack H. Brown
Class of 1956
I am so saddened to hear of the passing of our Coach, Dick Adair. He influenced so many of us who had the pleasure of playing on his teams. I recall, when I was coaching basketball at Palm Springs High School, having Coach Adair and a teammate of ours, Bill Munson, assigned to referee our game. I greeted them before the game and referred to Coach Adair as 'Coach'. His response was, "Jerry, you can call me Dick, now". Well, I couldn't do that as he was my idol, so I replied, "Coach Adair, I will always refer to you as Coach!" His response was his wonderful smile and, "OK". The Class of '56 SBHS will miss this wonderful man and remember how much we benefited from his leadership. God Bless his family.
Jerry Smith - Class of 1956
I personally don't have a memory of Coach Adair, but my husband, Bill Munson, played basketball for him at SBHS in the 1950's. Bill often spoke of Coach and was always extolling what a great man, friend and role model he was. Coach Adair attended Bill's memorial last summer and I felt what an honor it was to have him there. My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and may you always remember the influence he had on many young men.
Marjorie Munson
Coach Adair and his family lived on Mayfield Avenue before moving and ultimately living in Redlands...I remember on Saturday or Sundays he would take his children and others from the neighborhood down to the high school gym and let us play basketball and jump on the trampolines. Coach Adair among other things coached the high school golf team that I played on from 1964 through 1967. He always found the positive...though he did get a little red in the face with me sometimes....He inspired generations of young men and women and to this day..I carry life lessons with me that he taught. My condolences to his beautiful wife Louise and to his children..Greg, Pete, Jan and Susan....know that your Dad made a difference...
