Adela D.R. Tate

Adela Doute Rinen Tate was born on 25th day of January 1932 to Gervacio Rinen and Nellie Grace Brown Rinen; and had one younger brother, Ramon.  Her father was born in the Philippines, immigrated to the United States and became a citizen. He was a WWII veteran, and worked for the United States Government Printing Office until he retired.  Her mother was born in Talladega, Alabama, and was a stay-at-home mother and wife.  Her parents were avid travelers, and took many photographs of their many adventures.

Adela was born and grew up in Washington, D.C., where she attended Dunbar High School. She was a good student, was on the volleyball team, the yearbook staff and in the National Honor Society. It was in high school that she decided she wanted to be a professional artist, and she set about to accomplish this. She attended college at Syracuse University where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustrative Art and Painting.

After completing college, she went to live in Greenwich Village in New York City which is known as the arts’ haven, the Bohemian Capital and the east coast birthplace of Beat and 60’s counterculture movements.  Recognizing that making a living as a professional artist was not going to be an easy feat, Adela obtained her teaching certificate

Adela married twice. Her first marriage to Freddie Redd, a jazz musician, did not last long and ended in a divorce. Her second marriage to Ralph “Sonny” Mitchel Tate Jr., who was a rare books dealer, lasted until his untimely death in 1986. While married to Sonny, they moved to the lower east side in an area commonly referred to as “Alphabet City”. Adela’s parents also moved to New York City to be closer to their daughter and family; and located an apartment that was just a few doors away. Adela and Sonny had one child, a daughter they named Tara.

With Tara, Adela chose to be a stay-at-home mother, much as her mother had done years before. Once Tara became an older teenager,  Adela grew restless.  She began to develop a semi-autobiographical manuscript, which she hoped to publish one day; and she decided to try to return to teaching.  However, during Adela’s long hiatus from teaching the educational system had vastly changed; and she found it difficult to navigate.  She decided to quit the profession, and enrolled in New York University where she received a Masters in Occupational Therapy.

With her Master’s degree in hand, Adela soon got a job at Bellevue Hospital in their MMTP as an Occupational Therapist. She very much enjoyed working with the patients, and was even able to introduce some of the art techniques she had acquired. Adela worked at Bellevue for ten years, at which point she retired.

Adela moved back to Washington D.C., where she spent the last 20 years of her life in close contact with her “sister” childhood friend, Mildred  Freeman. Despite never having become the professional artist she had dreamed of becoming in high school, Adela found she now had the time to freely draw and write the numerous memories and stories she had acquired.

Adela passed peacefully on November 17, 2021.

Adela was a creative, lovely, vibrant, and gentle soul. It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to Adela, but we celebrate her life and will cherish the memories she left with us.

Adela is survived by her daughter, Tara Tate, her brother, Ramon Rinen, her “sister”, Mildred Freeman, her God son, Tommy Freeman, and Millie’s late daughter’s son, Victor Darceuille.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to:
Brown Art Ink

This community incubator supports black and Latinx artists through paid opportunities to show work in museums, galleries, and public spaces. The organization also offers professional training in skills required to build a career in the arts. To donate, email hello@brownartink.com

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