Celebrating the Life of
Adam Agnello
Obituary
Thank you all who gather here to celebrate the life of Adam.
Adam Henry Agnello (February 25 1978-November 16 2024) passed away unexpectedly in Putnam, CT at the age of 46. He was born in Forest Grove, Oregon to his mother, Evonne Agnello of Tacoma, Washington and his father, John Agnello of Brainerd, Minnesota, both of whom he is survived by. He was also survived by his two cats, Percy and Hazel, for whom he had great affection.
Adam graduated in 2000 from the Rhode Island School of Design with a degree in Furniture Design. He held a lifelong passion for fine woodworking and hand tools. He was immensely creative with his design, and had both a distinct style and innate ability to highlight the natural beauty of the materials he worked with.
His heart was in the restoration and preservation of antique hand planes, blades, and sharpening stones. He was a perfectionist, and would often 'burn the midnight oil,' as he would say, working tirelessly to create a mirrorglass-finish on his projects. Adam loved more than anything to spend long hours in his basement workshop, often with an "open-garage" policy, welcoming visitors to stop in and pass time with him, sharing stories, tools, and tricks of the trade. Adam was also a skilled billiards player, with several wins under his belt, including a victory with his 9-Ball Team in 2010 that took him out to compete nationally in Las Vegas.
Adam was well-loved by his many friends and was known to be a supportive and dependable friend to all, who was quick with a smile and never took himself too seriously. A deeply generous man, he truly gave more than he took from this world. He held in great esteem Eastern spiritualism, which influenced his life and his impact on the world around him. Adam harbored a distinct stillness within him that allowed him to flow along with the stream of life. Those who knew him well remember him to be patient, gentle, forgiving, and with a deep respect for nature and his understanding of a universal order.
At his request, no services will be held, but please raise a glass with people you love in his remembrance. Adam wished his friends to remember him without sadness, but instead through the countless warm experiences we shared with him along the way. His family would love if you honored him by sharing your memories and stories here. Humor, as was always his way, is welcome.
I am truly my best self for having been close with Adam. He will always be within me, and within all of us. I hope to always live my life in a way that honors him, by extending to all who I meet the same warm light he has extended to me.
Jesse Knust
Memories and Condolences
Please share a photo or video, or post a heartfelt condolence to the family.
Adam was a tremendous artist. I had hime as a drawing student at WMS, his senior year as he was preparing to apply to RISD. I can picture him and his drawings, well and fondly remember our having chats about art and making. My condolences to his family and friends. See you in the stars, Adam.
Adam was one of my first students at The White Mountain School when I became head of the art department. He was a very creative photographer, and I remember his calm, kind presence. I’m happy to see that he continued in the arts, and I’m not surprised that he was drawn to woodworking. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.
I can hear your voice and laugh and see your smile. My hear goes out to your people. I’m glad we existed at White Mountain at the same time. 💕 Rest easy.
It doesn’t look like what I posted last night went up so I’ll try again! It looks like none of our White Mountain School friends have received the news of Adam’s tragic passing because their words are not on here but he truly was the linchpin of our friend group. So many great memories at the school but also of weekends and breaks away. After graduation Ryan Nealley and I spent a lot of time with him at RISD and later he and I traveled to visit Ryan at WPI. I am sorry that in our adult lives we only connected every few years and that we never did pull off the visit we always discussed, I never imagined you’d be gone so soon! Rest easy old friend!
Funny the things we say in the last minutes of high-school. As a day student at a boarding school I knew I had it good. The escape was at my house for those who could come with me. I'm glad Adam was able to stop by and chill at our house. So long my friend...
Adam was a kind soul he will be missed... I can't find my 1995 year book, but I have the 1996 when he was a Senior. I'm glad we were friends all those years ago. Forever young in my memories...
Unsurprisingly I am slow on the FB uptake and am just receiving the tragic news of Adam’s passing now. It looks like our fellow White Mountain School friends have also not received the news because if they had they would call be on here as well. I will reach out to them tomorrow and let them all know, I am positive that everyone will be as devastated as I am! ‘95-‘96 was my first year at White Mountain and Adam was undoubtedly the linchpin of our friend group. Every break and many weekends we were off on adventures with Adam! When he got to RISD Ryan Nealley and I had many great weekends there with him and when Ryan got to WPI Adam and I got together to visit him there and drink his frat boy beer! I’m sorry that we only connected every few years in our adult lives but I will always remember our youthful memories! Rest easy old friend!
So...I've spent all day thinking about what to write...how to put into words what Adam was to me, for me... We last chatted at the end of August. We met 18? Years ago. Lili Marlene's. Bar in Providence. Shared the same birthday. Went home together. Left an earring at his house. Turned into a tumultuous but truly beautiful relationship. He introduced me to Theosophy. I'd like to think I introduced him to a love he hasn't known before. He made pancakes with cottage cheese which I doubted would taste good, but they were amazing. He made me a jewelry box out of cherry and oak. (He made the same for a friend). Mine had a flaw in it during its creation and he mended it, I always felt like I didn't get the perfect piece, but actually knowing the perfectionist he was I think it was his way of saying that I allowed and accepted him "flaws and all". Bonfires in the back yard. A mattress thrown on for extra effect by James nearly burnt the house down. He could never be "beholden" but I was beholden to him. He broke my heart open and broke it in two. He was exactly what I needed though I wouldn't know it for some time because it hurt so much to lose him I couldn't see at the time that he was making a way through. I'm rambling... Nights in his woodworking studio, trying to skateboard while listening to the Flaming Lips (trying to play all 4 CDs at once was no small feat). Swimming to the little island in the middle of Carr's pond...sleeping in front of a fire. His tai chi and practices of restraint, doubled down with a good ol' dose of fuck it all. The scent of whole foods brand body lotion and beautiful plants in the bathroom. Snow outside the window. Music. Music. Music. Art nouveau. Swallows. Incense. Love. He was love. I loved him.
High School yearbook photo from The White Mountain School in Littleton, NH- can you spot him? Hint- he had LONG hair! Second in from the left on the right hand page.
Visiting with his good friends Dylan & Jessie Malarkey 🙂
Doing what we did! Shooting pool at the Putnam VFW, just a minute away from his house. Adam played on a masters team for several years out of this bar. He loved competing, and man he was a good sport. People LOVED playing pool with Adam because of his easy-going nature and excellent sportsmanship. He really excelled at the game in our area, he was fun, and he never took it too seriously.
Halloween fun @ Charlee Bravos, in maybe 2016? 2017? He was Dionysus, God of Wine 🥂 he made his own grapevine crown 💞
Adam and I were really close friends in a period of my life that I look back on with great fondness. He possessed a rare serenity and grace that left a significant impact on those around him. His empathy and compassion went beyond mere kindness, they inspired people to reciprocate that same tranquility. So, it’s with tremendous gratitude that I say farewell to my old friend. I’ll always remember our peak moments together and that infectious laugh. I’d like to think I’m a better person today for having known him all those years ago.
Adam was our neighbor and friend. We always enjoyed talking to him. We had him restore a piece of furniture that Feb’s grandparents ad in the house. He did a great job and explained every step he took in the restoration process. We will miss him very much. Rest in Peace Adam.
A little father-son time during a visit with his father John a few years back. He really enjoyed that trip, meant a lot to him to be with his father again.
He genuinely taught our cat, Percy, to play fetch. I can't tell you how many times I watched this video over the years. He really had a 'cat whisperer' quality about him. Our cats, Percy and Hazel, loved him more than anything. They'd sit on his shoulder while he was in the shop, like a parrot. They'd sit on his lap in the car while he did a run to the post office. They'd literally follow him on the trails in the woods behind our home. He'd 'walk them' out to the pond out back.
'Covid Thanksgiving'- Adam, Gianna, Grace and my sister Gloria making hand turkeys
Adam and Grace. So silly 🩷
He LOVED kids, loved spending time with our friends' kids. He was *definitely* the adult the kids wanted to be around in any setting. I remember Thanksgiving 2020, this little one, Grace, followed him around all over the house as he showed her... TOOLS 🤣 but she was fascinated. *Only* Adam.
There are NO WORDS, lol this man really just walks up to a baby deer like he's snow white. Also note how his 'forest' has our cats just trotting along the path LMAO!
Always willing to give advice and help!
My heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Adam. I first met Adam playing pool and gatherings with mutual friends. He was a kind and caring soul whom I was grateful to have as my friend. I You will forever have a place in my heart. Rest in peace, Adam.
He was an average at best pool player. Dare I say mediocre. I’ve never seen a man that loved sharpening stones so much. In all seriousness he was a great guy. I’m lucky to have known him. Rest in piece Jean Claude
Adam was the best boyfriend that my mom ever had. He was a a part of my childhood for several years, and even when he and my mom broke up, they stayed very close friends. Even after they broke up, he stayed a part of my family. He graciously accepted to be my godfather, happily helped out with projects at my grandmas house, and stayed connected over the years. Adam is the reason why I got into Cage the Elephant as a teenager. And when I started teaching myself how to play ukulele, he made it his mission to restore my Grandma Bea's old ukulele as a special gift. I wish that I had visited him more since moving away for college.
Adam also really had quite the green thumb. He had that kind of patience about him, and loved growing plants from seed. We had a pretty prolific garden the first few years in his house on Woodside. He was particularly fond of his sunflowers 🌻 He just wanted to be the hub, the hangout, the firepit for people to come and go from late into the night hours. We had many good times hosting friends in our yard 🩷
Sold Adam a plane once...I'm positive he must have been hilarious in person. Friends and followed him in many tool and woodworking groups on FB too. Condolences to family and friends.
Will be missed. Great pool player, even better person.
I enjoyed learning from Adam! He was an excellent pool player and enjoyed sharing his love for the game by teaching me and others!! My deepest condolences to his friends and family!! He will be missed.
I was 11 in 2010 and remember playing pool with him at bravos my mom was on his team so i got to practice while they played their match. I appreciated your warm personality and enjoyed our conversations bumping into you at the post office.
I was in some woodworking circles with him and we spoke online. I was gifted a piece of purple Vermont slate he dug from his property and had prepared for knife sharpening. It lives on my desk full time and gets used by my coworkers and me often. I have always thought of him when I used it, and will continue to do so.
Adam was one of the first people who I called a friend in CIHI and welcomed me so kindly into the admin group. He sent me a care package as a welcome into the craziness of being an admin in a quickly growing tool group with the only stipulation being to pay it forward to a new tool junkie. He's gotten me into all sorts of craziness in the tool world like natural stones and making a YouTube channel. One of my favorite things was chatting with him about stones and sending packages back and forth to try different ones. Every interaction with him was such a delight and he will be deeply missed.
Unknown to just about everyone, Adam and I used to send videos to each other in the vein of “masterpiece theatre” except we would talk about tools and unboxing. Then we would proceed to make fun of people who got upset in group forums. Two deviants doing deviant things. Although I hadn’t spoken to him in awhile, he was a very cool dude who I enjoyed speaking to.
He will be so missed from all of us in our CIHI auction group.
A truly great man.
I always picture Adam tinkering when I think of him and this will remain true now! I’ll never forget the day he was mesmerized by the tiny knives Jesse and I found at the thrift, and he tried to sharpen them for us with all his might. His creations were astounding and his art will be missed.
He secretly liked getting dressed up for a special occasion. He especially liked smelling good. He always wore sandalwood oil as his signature fragrance. Wood, wood, wood lol. What could be more Adam.
Of course we talked eBay whenever we were in the same room. Condolences to Adam's family, and to you my Jesse.
The CIHI family lost one of our own. My family sends their condolences.
Send Gifts and Donations
Show your support by sending a sympathy gift or making a donation.
