John A. Adams, 63, a former Chicago advertising executive, died of pancreatic cancer Sunday in his New York home. He was a managing partner of Bozell, Jacobs, Kenyon & Eckhardt Inc. in New York, a marketing communications holding company with operations in advertising, public relations, Web-site development and other media. From 1973 to 1979, he was executive vice president/regional manager for McCann-Erickson in Chicago. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, Mr. Adams started his career as an assistant advertising manager for General Electric Co. in Cleveland. He went on to work in advertising and marketing in Philadelphia, New York, Detroit, Houston, Chicago, San Diego; Los Angeles and London. He is survived by his wife, Penny; a daughter, Stephanie; and a son, John. Services will be held Thursday in New York.
