Debra Adams, past chairperson of diocesan Commission for People with Disabilities, dies

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Debra Adams

Debra Lee (Marincic) Adams passed away peacefully Nov. 4, 2017 at her home. She has been an example of belief of God’s will through her life’s journey and through her illness, taking each step with calmness and grace.

Adams was “a model for all of us in terms of both her Catholic understanding and her compassion for others,” said Carol Ruddell, who served with Adams on the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City’s Commission for People with Disabilities.

Adams was a member of the commission for more than 35 years and served many terms as chairperson. She also was a two-term member of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability, serving from 2005 to 2011, and was active in the diocese and in her parish.

“It was her idea to have interpreters for the Deaf at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Parish back in 1991,” Ruddell said. “Debbie never let being in a wheelchair stop her from doing anything. She used her talent with art and architecture well. In fact, she created the logo for the National Catholic Partnership on Disability.”

Debbie was born in Evanston Wyo. on Oct. 5, 1960, to Mike and Dorothy (Micheli) Marincic. She attended school in Big Piney, Wyo. She attended the University of Wyoming, where she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority and Mortarboard, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics in 1983.  She moved to Salt Lake City in 1988 to attend the University of Utah, and received her master’s degree in architecture in 1992. She married Oscar Adams on June 27, 2003.

Debbie worked as an architect for several firms in the Salt Lake City area, most recently for CRSA Architecture. She contributed to the design of St. Vincent de Paul Parish’s pavilion, the Afton Readiness Center, Utah Olympic Oval and many other projects in Utah and the surrounding states.

She was dedicated to improving accessibility for the disabled. She worked with the University of Utah to ensure compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act, when it became law. She served on the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City’s Commission for People with Disabilities, and the National Catholic Partnership on Disability (appointed to and recommended by Archbishop George H. Niederauer, eighth Bishop of Salt Lake City). She was a faithful member of St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, where she contributed to Eucharistic ministry and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament ministry. Debbie was a member of the Board of Trustees for the Catholic Foundation of Utah.

During her struggle with cancer she spoke of the “Gift of Cancer” – the gift given to her by all the people who cared for her, and the time she spent with people she hadn’t seen in years. She also shared this gift with others by coordinating and facilitating a healing retreat in August.

She is survived by her father, Mike Marincic; sisters Brenda (Kathy) Dunford and Tina Marincic; brother-in-law, Dale Dunford; nephews Matthew Dunford, Nathan Dunford, Brandon McKeown; and niece Katherine Dunford.  

She was preceded in death by her husband, Oscar Adams; and her mother, Dorothy Marincic.

A funeral Mass was celebrated on Nov. 14 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Interment was at Fort Bridger Cemetery in Fort Bridger, Wyo.

Financial gifts can be given as donations in her name to the Pregnancy Resource Center of Salt Lake City at http://www.pregnancyresource.net/online-donation.html or to the St Vincent de Paul Parish Building Fund through the parish office.

Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.starksfuneral.com.