Joseph Ellis Adcock
October 11, 1938 – August 23, 2026
Joseph Ellis Adcock, 87, died on August 23, 2026, in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. His daughters Megan and Iris were both with him.
Born on October 11, 1938, in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, Joe built a life shaped by literature, journalism, theater, art, music, language, meditation and service. He was predeceased by his wife of over 60 years, Cynthia Adcock, who died in 2025. He is survived by his two daughters, Megan Frazer and Iris Gibson; his sister, Irene Bassow; his sons-in-law, Marc Frazer and Tim Gibson; and his four grandchildren, Clara, Kaila, Leo, and Kathryn.
Joe earned a B.A. from Swarthmore College and was later awarded a fellowship to study Spanish in Peru for five months at the Catholic University. He went on to earn a degree in Latin American Studies from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma De Mexico, a Master of Science in Journalism from Columbia University, serve as an International Fellow at Columbia University, and a Journalism Fellow at Stanford University.
Joe devoted his professional life to journalism. He spent 16 years at the Philadelphia Bulletin, where he wrote on a wide variety of entertainment topics, including books, television, movies, theater, and celebrity interviews. When the Bulletin closed, he moved into what can be described as his dream job with the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, serving as theater critic. He remained in that role for more than 20 years, until his retirement in 2007. He was known for his support of smaller theaters doing original work. A new theater could count on Joe to be in the audience.
Joe loved being active in so many ways including biking, Tai Chi, swimming, tennis, skiing, hiking, and sailing. He also was consistent in his devotion to making music. He played the piano almost every day of his life including daily renditions of Pachebel’s Cannon in D most days within the last month of his life. Joe never stopped trying to do whatever he could.
Service was a way of life for Joe and he found many ways to contribute over the years. He volunteered on several service missions with the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) in Mexico and Cuba, building potable water systems, latrines and a clinic, both prior to marriage and then again with Cynthia and their daughters, again in Mexico. He gave his time to local elementary and high schools, food banks, as a docent with the Folger Shakespeare Library in DC, and as a human shield in Guatemala creating safety for villagers returning to their homes after the civil war. He earned recognition from Washington state and Arlington county, Virginia for his service to the community.
Joe loved to play and spend time with his children and grandchildren. He got on the floor and played Monster or All Against All or Fly Like A Birdy with Megan and Iris. On hikes he taught Megan the names of plant species and played ‘bouncy water shoes’ at the west Philly swim club. Joe and Iris shared a love of tennis; they took lessons together and played many matches. They also took sailing lessons together and earned their licenses to sail. Both children and grandchildren loved tagging along with Joe to the theater and got to see many amazing performances. Joe was an amazing grandfather or “Poppy” as he was known. He never turned down an invitation by his grandchildren to play a game, read, play music, and sing or do make-believe.
Joe was known for being compassionate and interested. He loved meeting new people, learning their stories, and offering his time where it was needed. Across his work, his travels, and his volunteer service, he left a legacy of deep engagement with the world around him. His absence will be felt deeply and he will be profoundly missed.