Robert McAdam's Obituary
Robert Paul McAdam, 62, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota died November 29, 2024. A memorial service will be held on Saturday January 18, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Decatur, Illinois. A visitation at the Church will start at 10:00 a.m. Following the service, a burial will be held at Boiling Springs Cemetery.
Bob was born on August 26, 1962 in Decatur, the fifth child of six in the family of Joe and Mickey McAdam. He was a playful and mischievous child who loved his neighborhood friends and the joy of growing up in a big and active family. When he was around eight years old, a lifeguard at Sun-n-Fun Swim Club noticed that he could swim like a fish and encouraged Bob’s parents to sign him up for the summer swim team.
For the rest of his life, Bob loved swimming and racing. At age 14, he broke his first national age group record in the breaststroke, swimming for the Decatur Swim Club. While in high school at MacArthur, Bob won four straight state championships, becoming the first athlete in Illinois High School history to do so – in any sport. He then attended the swimming powerhouse, The University of Southern California on a scholarship and became a NCAA All-American. He competed in the United States Olympic Trials in 1980, 1984 and 1988. In 1984, Bob was ranked 12th in the World in the 100 meter breaststroke.
After the 1984 Olympic Trials, Bob enlisted in the United States Navy. He served six years as an electrician and was stationed in San Diego where he was assigned to the USS Carl Vinson. When his superiors learned about his swimming prowess, they asked him to help train the Navy Seals and allowed him to continue training for the next Olympic trials in 1988. After the Navy, Bob returned to Central Illinois and coached age-group swimming in Springfield, Quincy and Bloomington, giving back to the sport that had given him so much.
In the late 1990’s, Bob moved to the Atlanta area and joined his brother Don working many years for the North American Money Order Company, owned by Don’s in-laws. Bob travelled to locations throughout the Southeast setting up and servicing money order machines and modernizing the Company’s hardware. He enjoyed being on the road and meeting store owners in all corners and working for a family-owned business.
Over the years, Bob developed special relationships with his six nieces and nephews, connecting with each of them individually about their own life passions, always being there to celebrate big moments.
He loved playing games, tracking the commodities markets, birdwatching, woodworking and following his favorite sports teams, the University of Illinois and the St. Louis Cardinals. To the end, Bob’s love language was time spent -- being supportive, encouraging and kind.
Around 2014, Bob jumped back in the pool and began racing again. Bob joined the Greenville Splash in South Carolina, where he made many friends. He soon returned to good form, winning a Masters National Championship in the breaststroke in 2019. His team celebrated him, saying: “Bob McAdam is our Swimmer of the Year . . . body, spirit and mind. A talented swimmer, volunteer and a person who is very kind. We’re proud of you Bob and you deserve the best.”
Bob is survived by his five siblings and their families: brother Philip F. Stokes of Charlottesville, Virgina; sister Nancy Stokes Veit and husband Anthony Veit of Ann Arbor, Michigan; brother Joseph L. McAdam III and wife Karla Lawler McAdam of Decatur, Illinois and their children Crystal McAdam and Ryan McAdam; his brother Donald E. McAdam and wife Sylvia Cole McAdam of Asheville, North Carolina and their sons Matthew McAdam and Cole McAdam; and brother Samuel T. McAdam and wife Gina Rutherford McAdam of Davis, California and their children Jack McAdam and Amanda McAdam. Bob was preceded in death by his parents Joseph L. McAdam, Jr. and Mildred (“Mickey”) Ann Phillips McAdam, who are also buried at Boiling Springs Cemetery.
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