Family and Friends Mourn Couple Killed by Somali Pirates

Family and friends of Jean and Scott Adam mourned their deaths Tuesday after the couple was shot and killed by Somali pirates who hijacked their yacht while they were on an international voyage distributing Bibles.

The couple were parishioners at St. Monica Catholic Church in Santa Monica and services were devoted Tuesday to their memory.

The Rev. David Guffey, a priest who is in residence at the church, reflected on Jean and Scott Adam at the 12:10 p.m. Mass.

He told the congregation of about 70 people who had gathered for the regular daily service, that "we do so today with special feelings of sadness and sympathy."

He said the news was "tragic" and noted that parishioners over the weekend had lit a candle in the hope that the couple would return home safely.

Monsignor Lloyd Torgerson gathered the faithful following the afternoon Mass for a special prayer for Jean and Scott Adam.

"They were an extraordinary part of our communty. They loved Saint Monica and we loved them," Torgerson told the group. "They did incredible work. Their work was an extraordinary work. They were missionaries in so many ways. At this time of their life they were retired, yet they wanted to do more, they wanted to make a difference in this world. So they went out and brought the word of God to people from all over different parts of this world and they died doing this."

Torgerson said that Jean had been his dentist, so he got to know her that way.

The couple was highly active in the church, and two of Jean's son attended St. Monica Catholic High School.

They were "very supportive of St. Monica's, and over these last years, they took our mission—'to form loving disciples who will transform this world'—and did," Torgerson said.

According to St. Monica's Annual Reports, Jean and Scott Adam, 70, donated money to the Partners in Mission effort benefiting St. Monica Catholic High School. They donated to the effort's campaigns in 2008-09 and 2009-10.

Torgerson said that the Scripture read during Mass on Tuesday morning says, "if you're faithful, you'll win the crown"—and, according to Torgerson, "that's what they did."

"They died doing what they wanted to do," he said.

Several church members said they remembered Jean because she used to sing in the church choir at the 11:30 a.m. Sunday Mass.

Curch member Colleen Hughes said Jean and Scott Adam always sat two pews behind her at church and that Jean would often bring a treat for her seizure-alert dog, Oscar. She said that she would remember them for their strong belief in faith and for how close they were.

"I think about the work they were so dedicated to do and that is missionary work," Hughes said. "They would take 1,000 Bibles and they wanted everyone to get to know God. Their faith was the most important thing in life to them, besides each other. They'd stand in there and hold hands and kiss and hug. They were nice people, really great people and I'm going to miss them something awful."

Saint Monica Church on its Web site released a statement from Jean and Scott Adam's family that read: "Our hearts are broken. Jean and Scott were taken from us in the worst possible way. While we want to grieve in private, we wish to extend our deepest gratitude to the brave men and women of the Navy and other military branches who risked their lives for our loved ones. God bless each and every one of you."

Jean and Scott Adam had been members of the Del Rey Yacht Club in Marina del Rey since 2001 and the yacht club served as their home away from home and stateside mail drop since they departed in 2004 on their worldwide voyage to distribute Bibles.

Many members of the yacht club had sailed with them over the years. The Adams participated in a 2005 race with the Del Rey Yacht Club in Puerto Vallarta and later met up with club members during a rendezvous in the Polynesian islands.

"We at Del Rey Yacht Club are deeply saddened by the tragic and senseless loss of our friends and members, Scott and Jean Adam," the yacht club said in a statement. " … We condemn the violent activity that troubles the waters off the coast of Somalia, and we hope that their deaths will bring about the world’s focus and eliminate this unnecessary violence."

The yacht club flew its flag at half mast in honor of the couple and extended their deepest condolences to their familes.  They also expressed their sympathies to the families and friends of Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle, both of Seattle. Macay and Riggle were onboard the Adam's yacht S/V Quest when it was hijacked and also were killed by the pirates.

Though they were on a mission to distribute Bibles, the svquest.com Web site that chronicled their sailing adventure showed a couple enjoying their golden years. Jean wrote how she got her dive certificiation in Hawaii in 2009 and the Web site is full of underwater photos she took showing octopus in Fiji, clown triggerfish and clown anemonefish in New Zealand and jellyfish in Palau.

Other photos show the couple playing with their granchildren in San Diego, watching racehorses at the Happy Valley Race Track in Hong Kong and enjoying exotic meals with friends in Malaysia and other parts of the world.

A funeral and memorial service are pending.

Editor's note: Kurt Orzeck is a parishioner at St. Monica's and previously served as a member of the church's Communications Committee.