Adelaide was born and raised in Washington D.C.
She started out as a chorus girl and was a former fashion model
in both D.C. and New York City. She came to California in the
mid-late 50’s with her ex-husband, Baritone Saxophone player,
Jack Nimitz, while he was on the road with the Stan Kenton Band.
She was a jazz vocalist herself, working such clubs in Los Angeles
as Dante’s, The Sound Room, Chadney’s, The Money Tree
and The Baked Potato to name a few. She also co-founded Musicians
Wives, Inc.
During the 70’s she was a talent manager whose clients
included jazz pianist Hampton Hawes, guitarists Lee Ritenour
and Joe Pass, Dee Barton (26 piece orchestra) and Carl Weathers.
She then took a hiatus and raised her children and then in about
the mid-nineties a dear friend of hers asked her to manage him
and she opened NTM (Nimitz Talent Management). She managed Soupy
Sales up until she passed away on June 7th 2001, and some of
her other clients included Tracy Reiner, Chris Montez and several
up and coming actors, writers and singers.
In 1979 she met her husband, Robert Factor and they were married
on May 12. They were married 22 years. She was and is still
his inspiration.
She was an activist during the 80’s and 90’s. As a
resident of Studio City for over 30 years she was president/founder
of C.R.I.M.E. Prevention Committee, a group that fought against
child pornography, protesting the Le Sex Shoppe in Studio City,
forcing the shop to keep its doors closed so children wouldn’t
be exposed to its sex paraphernalia. The fought against the
illegal sales of "look-a-like" drugs and had them
shut down. They were also instrumental in cleaning up the streets
of crime and prostitution. Because of her heavy involvement
in the community, she was encouraged to run for City Council
in the 2nd District against Joel Wachs. Although she lost, she
remained very active in politics and was later hired to help
run Wach’s campaign for Mayor. She was the Eastern Regional
Director for the Foundation for America’s Sexually Exploited
Children, Inc. She later worked with C.I.S.C.O.P. Citizens in
Support of the Chief of Police during Daryl Gates reign. In
1989 they moved to Burbank and she spearheaded the fight against
the Malathian spraying and was president/founder of the group
F.O.C.U.S. (Families Opposed to Chemical Urban Spraying, Inc.)
She held rallies all over the city and had a huge rally in Burbank
with many prominent people from the film and TV industry, including
many members of the cast of SCTV. She also marched alongside
Caesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers. She got involved
in doing Stand-in and Background work in the movie industry
and in 1991 ran for a seat on the National Board of SEG (Screen
Extra’s Guild). She had worked on many films and television
series. Working regularly on such shows as "Seinfeld",
"Night Court" and "Diagnosis Murder".
She also spent her entire adulthood rescuing animals, children’s
rights and very active in helping senior citizens. She was instrumental
in getting a street light and crosswalk put in at the corner
of Olive & Parish in Burbank after a young teenager was
hit by a car there and lost her sight.
Adelaide loved public relations and was wonderful at it. She
was great with people from all walks of the world. She got very
involved with her second husband, Bob and his work as an actor
and co-produced and did anything and everything for productions
he was involved in producing. Among them being "Danny and
the Deep Blue Sea" at the Gypsy Playhouse in Burbank, "Are
You Lonesome Tonight?" at the Victory Theatre and she produced
the one-man show "Vince" at Two Roads in Studio City,
starring John Pinero. At the time of her passing, she was working
on an adaptation of Hampton Hawe’s book "Raise Up
Off Me," into a film and working on a Soupy Sales television
pilot.
Adelaide’s achievements were monumental and she never boasted
of all the things she did. Her commitment to God had always
been very important to her as was her family, friends and loved
ones. It’s obvious she spent her life always thinking and
helping others. She truly put others first. She believed that
we are all children of God and we should love each other…all
creatures on earth. When she was diagnosed with her sickness
she thought of her children, husband, family and animals. She
decided that she would fight it "her way" and did
it without medication, or hospitals. She never complained of
the pain, it was only "discomfort" she would say.
Most of her friends and family didn’t really know the extent
of her illness because she didn’t want to put that burden
on anyone. She was always "up", smiling, enjoying
the time she had left here on earth. She believed that she would
beat this disease and was looking forward to going to school
in July to become a Practitioner of the Church so she could
carry out God’s work and help people. She was constantly
worrying about her family member’s health in the last days,
instead of her own. Again, thinking of others first.
One other thing should be mentioned. Adelaide’s whole life
revolved around the happiness of her loved ones. And she was
so proud of her children Jacqueline and David.
Everyone who ever met Adelaide felt her friendship and love
from the beginning. She is greatly missed. Adelaide’s mission
in life was to help others and make people feel good and she
did that without skipping a beat. She must have fulfilled her
destiny here on earth and she was an angel here and God wanted
his angel to be with him now.
Adelaide is survived by many, many friends, and family. Her
husband, Bob, daughter, Jacqueline, son David, her two dogs
Emmy & Katie, and two cats Valentino & Mick.
