An Outdoorsman, Businessman, and Family Patriarch is Memorialized with a Fund
Patricia Adair, wife of Brian Arthur Adair, along with their children, Katherine Adair Truitt, and Matthew Adair, established a donor-advised fund as a way to memorialize him. Brian passed away unexpectedly in February following a brief illness. An avid outdoorsman since his youth, Brian utilized this passion, as well as his business acumen when, in 1976, he opened Freedom Trails Outdoor Outfitters, a sporting goods store specializing in hiking, camping, backpacking, canoeing, and Nordic skiing. Throughout his career, Brian had the opportunity to outfit campers and scouts, sharing his expertise with customers and helping them explore their interest in the outdoors. Brian retired and closed his store in November 2017 after 41 years of business.
Brian was involved in the Boy Scouts his entire life, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout with Troop #152. While in college, he was active with the Troop #152 Explorer Post. He continued his service to scouting with Troop #104, embarking on two backpacking trips to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico with his son, Matthew. At the time of his death, he was a District Eagle Scout Counselor and was involved in the Troop Committee for #121.
Brian was a vibrant, fun-loving family man. He was an avid skier and traveled all over the United States, Canada, and Europe enjoying experiences on the mountains with his family. Brian was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather to his four grandsons. According to his family, Brian was the consummate family man and patriarch to the Adair clan, keeping close ties among his siblings and their spouses, nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Brian was a member of the First Congregational Church, where he was a former Deacon and Trustee in addition to being very active on other committees. He had the pleasure of being involved with the church camp, Hemlock Trails, since its inception in the mid-1960s, where he enjoyed volunteering his time to help maintain the property.
In the spirit of Brian’s passion for the outdoors and scouting, the family plans to focus charitable donations in these areas. Tax-deductible donations can be made by check written to the Richland County Foundation with the name of the Brian Arthur Adair Fund on the memo line or online at richlandcountyfoundation.org.
