Eric Adamy

Eric Allen Adamy, who founded an accounting firm, a business valuation firm, and helped lead civic organizations in West Michigan, passed away at age 76. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in June, and died peacefully at his home in Ada on April 30, 2024, with his family by his side.

Known as Rick, the silver-haired businessman was a father, mentor, leader and friend who wove himself into the community of Grand Rapids. His kindness, wisdom and deep caring for others left a positive mark on the careers and lives of many people.

Born June 9, 1947, in Reed City, Mich., Rick was stamped with the experience of growing up in small-town America in the 1950s. He cherished his memories of spending summers with family and friends at Indian Lake, where he made lifelong friendships. After his family uprooted for East Grand Rapids when he was a teenager, he attended the University of Michigan, where he quickly learned that his interest in meteorology may not lead to the career of his dreams. So, he studied business and went on to earn a masters in business administration from Michigan State University. There he spotted a pretty graduate student from Dayton, Ohio, in the dorm cafeteria. Poised and smart, she quickly became the love of his life. He married Loyann Millonig when they finished school.

Rick began his career as an auditor in Detroit before he and Loy moved to Grand Rapids. In the face of a recession, he and a partner took the risk of starting their own CPA firm in 1979. When a client called four years later and asked for a business valuation, he confidently accepted the assignment, hung up the phone, then turned to his partner and asked, “Do we have any books on business valuation?”

Over the next four decades, he would go on to become a trusted advisor to hundreds of business owners, executives and other professionals, helping them navigate important decisions. He launched rewarding careers for dozens of employees and served several community organizations well into retirement. His business legacy continues with Adamy Valuation, now led by his son, Nick, and the CPA firm, which he transitioned to his partners and is now Baker Holtz.

Rick was active in the Economic Club of Grand Rapids, served as chair of the Literacy Center of West Michigan, helped the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids manage its finances, invested in local startups through Grand Angels and mentored young executives in the Jandernoa Entrepreneurial Mentoring program. He could not walk through a restaurant in Grand Rapids without seeing someone he knew and stopping to talk with them.

His great joy was the family he and Loy built during 52 years of marriage: his two children, Nick Adamy (Shellie Adamy) and Janet Adamy Booker (Ethan Booker), and his five grandchildren. Together they enjoyed summers on Payne Lake, where he slalom water skied and took batches of kids tubing behind the speedboat, and on the shores of Lake Michigan, where he sailed and served up pancake breakfasts.

A visitation will be held Thursday, May 9, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Metcalf & Jonkhoff Funeral Service, located at 4291 Cascade Road SE in Grand Rapids. A memorial service will take place Friday, May 10, at 11 am at East Church, located at 1005 Giddings Ave. SE in Grand Rapids. All who knew him are welcome at both. Instead of flowers, those wishing to make donations should give to the Literacy Center of West Michigan or Mel Trotter Ministries, both based in Grand Rapids.

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