Newly re-elected Cary trustee dead at 53

Steve Adams was the kind of man who always put Cary first, his friends and colleagues said Friday.

Whether it was encouraging residents to talk about the town's gang activity, securing Harley Davidson motorcycles for local events or heading the village's public safety committee, Adams was Cary's face for those and many more initiatives.

Adams, 53, had been a village trustee since 2005 and had won re-election earlier this month.

He died Thursday of an apparent heart attack, said Tom Kierna, the town's village president-elect, who also is one of Adams' close friends.

Trustee Rick Dudek, also 53, said the sad news left him stunned.

"Frankly, I had to pull over, I was in complete shock," he said. "I guess it just makes you think about how fleeting life can be."

Out of respect to Adams, Village President Steve Lamal authorized village staff to install bunting on Cary's Route 14 entrance signs and on signs at village hall.

It will remain in place until the day after his burial.

In addition, the four American flags on village-owned property will be lowered to half-staff the day of Adams' funeral.

"The village of Cary has lost a dedicated public servant and, even more importantly, a very good and decent man," Lamal said in a statement.

Most recently, Adams was deeply concerned about the recent gang vandalism that had sprung up in the village.

Late last year as a member of Cary-Grove Crime Stoppers, he helped secure money to buy 54 light bulbs to help drive gang activity away from the Arrowhead subdivision.

He also was head of the public safety committee that in December organized a community meeting to discuss the gang issues.

That meeting attracted more than 100 residents.

"He was a wonderful, tireless, dedicated servant to the village of Cary," Kierna said.

Adams also knew how to have a great time, and was adamant about setting money aside for the town's motorcycle program, in which the village bought Harleys for use in public events, giving them an extra special touch, Dudek said.

Adams is survived by Karen, his wife of 30 years, and three sons: Dan, 26, Bryan, 24, and Kevin, 18.

Funeral arrangements are pending at the Kahle Moore Funeral Home in Cary.