Patricia S. Adams, perhaps better known to many Sun Journal readers as Patricia Joseph Adams, died Saturday. She was 78.

Adams often contributed letters to this page. She so riled some people up that other Patricia Adamses asked her – and us – to come up with a way to identify her so that there would be no confusion. After much discussion, Adams, an ardent lefty, adopted her maiden name for her middle name when signing letters.

Saying Adams was on the left does not do justice to her political beliefs. She was often a target for criticism, but never swayed in her commitment to put her ideas into the public forum. She believed that individuals could make a difference and could change things for the better. She was concerned about her community and the world, and was not afraid to take unpopular positions, put her name on them and then deal with the sometimes negative reactions. She believed in writing out loud.

We’ll miss Adams’ missives, and the contributions she made to a lively opinion page.