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Jyl Burke Adams
FAMILY: I live in Eagle, Idaho. My dad was in the Air Force and our family was transferred to Las Vegas from Cape Cod, Massachusetts in 1967. I attended public school until sophomore year when my parents enrolled me in Bishop Gorman High School. I am married and have three children, twin girls, and a son. I have 9 grandchildren. I love spending time with kids and grandkids and it’s usually a wild time when we can all get together. I married my current husband, Larry, in 2016. We have two King Charles Cavalier dogs named Spencer and Izzy.
OCCUPATION: I returned to school in 2004 to pursue a Master’s in Social Work. In 2016 I retired from my private practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker where I focused my work on children and families.
FAVORITE HIGH SCHOOL MEMORIES: Bishop Gorman was my first Catholic school experience and I had heard tales over the years of nuns rapping your knuckles with rulers when out of line. I didn’t start the school year until late in the fall that year. I was in French IV class with Brother Drolet and on my first day he had me take the exam he was giving the class to see where I was in the language. I was so nervous as he walked up and down the aisles with “something” swinging behind his back. I was just sure it was something meant to smack knuckles if caught cheating. Turns out it was his rosary. I laugh about this because there was no kinder soul than Brother Drolet in my experience.
Rosemary Mazzuca and I had big plans to burn our skirts once we graduated but I left Gorman to attend Vo-Tech so our plans never materialized.
HOW I LIKE TO SPEND MY TIME: I love growing a garden and canning tomatoes and salsa. I love to travel, cook, and entertain. My family means everything to me. I like to play golf, but I am no threat to anyone on the course!
HIGHTLIGHTS OF MY LIFE SINCE HIGH SCHOOL: I worked as a court reporter after graduating from high school in Las Vegas. It was an intense job but super interesting. My father was transferred to Upper Heyford Air Force Base in England and even though I was 18, I decided to move with the family to see England.
A few years after returning from England I married my first husband and had three children. I was a stay-at-home mom for several years. My husband and I moved to Elko, Nevada to raise our children in a small-town environment. We had many good years there. Sadly, he died unexpectedly in 1993.
I think I have visited just about every state in the US. I attended first through third grade in Japan. As a result of being a military family I have had numerous opportunities to see the world.
After leaving Gorman I lost track of friends I had met during my time there. Shortly before the 40th reunion I decided to try to reconnect, and it has been a pleasure catching up and reconnecting.