Peter Tyson Adams, 63, of Glenview, Illinois, passed away January 22, 2021. Peter was born in Pekin, Illinois, to Augustus E. (Jr.) and Patricia Adams. He had a rich, though not typical childhood. His father’s work took the family to Latin America, and Peter spent many of his formative years in Venezuela, Argentina, and Brazil. The family returned to the United States during his middle school years, and then returned to Venezuela where he finished high school. He spoke fluent Spanish and Portuguese, and had many stories of his and his siblings’ adventures growing up in such diverse places.

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After graduating from high school, he went to Bowling Green State University in Ohio, graduating with his BA degree. He then attended AGSIM/Thunderbird for graduate school, earning his MBA. Peter  worked at the Harris Bank in Chicago, where he served as Vice President of International. His work took him back to many of the same countries in which he grew up.

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At 40, Peter left the banking world and followed his passion - food. He graduated from the College of DuPage’s culinary institute with his SSC, CHE, FMP, and FSMCE certifications and became a chef/culinary instructor.  He began his new career as the director of the Illinois Institute of Art’s culinary program. But Peter liked to cook too much to remain behind a desk. He loved to teach, loved to share his passion for food preparation with anyone who wanted to learn. He became an instructor in the culinary program he had directed, and shared his expertise with his students. He loved to mentor family as well, many of whom were fortunate to be able to cook meals under his tutelage. He was an exacting teacher, and his love for the process was clear. His motto seemed to be “Don’t bother to cook if you aren’t willing to do it right”. Anyone lucky enough to have cooked with him came away with a deeper appreciation for food and its preparation.

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Peter leaves behind his grieving family: his loving wife of 39 years, Anna M. Adams; his brother Augustus (Gus) Adams III and his wife Mary Ann Brayer; sister Lee Adams and her husband Bill Miller; sister Maren Rahn and her husband Ed; brother John Adams and his wife Cynthia; nieces and nephews, Taylor and Austin Adams; Michael, Laura, and Steven Penczarski; Angela Trent; Esther and Hayden Adams; and Katherine, Madison and Abigail Miller. He also leaves behind his beloved whippet, Blaze. He was preceded in death by his parents, Augustus E. Adams, Jr. and Patricia Adams, sister Deborah Adams, nephew David Sparano, and his beloved pets, Amy, Connor, Jilly, and Pepe.