Camille Ruth Adams, a former longtime resident of Pacific Palisades, passed away on March 5 in Malibu with her devoted and loving family at her bedside. She was 72. ”Mimi, as she was known throughout most of her life, was born in Chicago on October 28, 1933 to Ruth (Wenter) and Paul Stedman Cummins. Her family moved from Fort Wayne, Indiana to Los Angeles in 1947, and she graduated from the Marlborough School. She also attended Pine Manor College in Massachusetts and the University of Southern California. ”Mimi married attorney Ken Adams in 1962 in Reno, Nevada, and they moved to the Palisades in 1975. They lived here for 30 years before moving to Malibu in 2005 to be near their grandchildren. ”In her adult life, Mimi dedicated her high energy and passion to numerous liberal causes including, among others, politics’as a staff member for Robert F. Kennedy, Edmund G. (Pat) Brown, Dianne Feinstein, Jimmy Carter and Alan Cranston; homelessness’as co-founder of Family Assistance Involving the Homeless (FAITH); and the peace movement’as co-founder of Palisadians for Peace. ”She was also active in classical music education, serving as co-founder of the Symphonians of Los Angeles and assistant to the dean of the USC School of Music. The existence of racial inequality, poverty and homelessness in this rich country troubled her deeply. Mimi’s compassionate nature, generosity and organizational skills were combined in her seemingly tireless efforts to effect change for the better in many ways. Always sensitive to the needs of others, she showed equal respect for the human dignity of every individual she encountered in her work. ”Her son, John, learned an early lesson from his mother’s generosity when just seven years old. ”Whenever the family traveled to Puerta Vallarta, Mimi would always come equipped with Chewels to give to the street kids and the beggars on the beach. John wondered why they had to do this; ‘their hands and faces were so dirty, they smelled and talked funny,’ he recalled last week. Mimi would explain that doing simple little things for people in need is really important and that someday he would understand. ‘But then I liked to hear them laugh and giggle after popping a piece of gum into their mouths. I understood that making people smile or laugh and giving gifts without expecting or asking anything in return felt really, really good.’ ”Baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal Church, Mimi also grew to embrace the spiritual traditions of many faiths and beliefs. Her love of life manifested itself in the arts and nature. A trained classical pianist, she encouraged and sponsored a number of promising young musicians. As an enthusiastic gardener and gifted flower arranger with an eye for interior design, Mimi brought beauty to every environment in which she lived. ”She loved to entertain friends in her home and celebrate all family events, infusing them with her joyful, fun-loving spirit. Writing reminiscences in her journals was a lifetime labor of love. Music’be it classical, Latin or jazz’was always playing in her home. ”She was both a Crossroads School parent and grandparent and a loyal supporter of New Roads School in Santa Monica. ”Mimi’s remarkable personality and presence transcended national boundaries, where she created strong bonds of lasting friendship and support for the arts in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and Venice, Italy. ”None of these numerous causes and relationships interfered with Mimi’s domestic life as wife and mother of three children whom she loved passionately. She nurtured each of their unique talents in every way. ”She is survived by her devoted husband Ken and her children: daughter Julie Adams Eamer (husband Brian Eamer); sons Ash Adams and John Adams; grandchildren Jordan, Garrett and Audrey Eamer; brother Paul F. Cummins (wife Mary Ann); sister Kathleen Phillips-Hellman (husband Robert); Debbi Green and godmother Dorothy Boothe. ”There will be a celebration of Mimi’s life on Saturday, March 18, at 3:30 p.m. at St. Augustine Church, 1227 4th Street, in Santa Monica. ”In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions in her name be made to the New Visions Foundation, 3131 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90404.
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