09/30/2024
Remembering NCDC Alumni Adrian Angus
Adrian Angus, age 39, of Worcester, MA, passed away on September 18th after a brief illness. He was predeceased by his sister, Nikki, in 1994.
Adrian was a dedicated and passionate public defender with the Worcester Trial Office of the Committee for Public Counsel Services since 2011. His commitment to justice extended beyond the courtroom, as he also served as a Legal Training Attorney in the Criminal Defense Training Unit of the CPCS Training Department, where he mentored and guided aspiring attorneys.
An honors graduate of McGill University and Boston University School of Law, Adrian’s expertise and dedication to social justice were widely recognized. In 2022, he was honored with the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Access to Justice Defender of the Year Award, a testament to his tireless advocacy for marginalized communities. He was also a member of the inaugural 2016 MBA Leadership Academy Class and received the Worcester County Bar Association’s President’s Award for Service to the Bar in 2021. At the time of his passing, Adrian was President-Elect of the Worcester County Bar Association for the 2025-2026 term. He was widely recognized for his stellar legal mind and ability to relate to people from all walks of life, and across the spectrum of society.
Adrian’s commitment to public service extended beyond the legal field. He was an active member of the Worcester Planning Board and served as a Commissioner on Massachusetts’ Access to Justice Commission of the Supreme Judicial Court, working to ensure equal access to the legal system for all citizens.
Adrian had a love for history and was an avid reader. His sharp intellect and deep compassion made him a fierce advocate for his clients in the Worcester area and a beloved colleague and friend. His memory was unparalleled, and his institutional knowledge of CPCS, the Worcester legal community, and Massachusetts history second to none. His personality combined the passion of the truest believer with pragmatic wisdom, a unique sense of humor with genuine empathy, and intellectual talents surpassed only by his emotional intelligence. Always smiling, with a loud, infectious laugh and beaming smile, gregarious and always with good cheer to spare, Adrian was a pleasure to be around.
Adrian was universally loved by his friends and respected by his colleagues. Unanimously acknowledged as one of the nicest people, let alone lawyers, one could ever meet, his loss is felt widely and deeply throughout Worcester, the Commonwealth and among lawyers nationwide. Adrian was truly one of a kind and there will never be another quite like him. Adrian was not just a great person, but he made those around him better people through his example, kindness, compassion and his impact. For those privileged to have had Adrian as a friend, his memory is and forever will be both an inspiration and a blessing.
Adrian is survived by his loving parents, Jonas and Elaine Angus of Harvard, MA, and his sister, Sinead Angus of Framingham, MA. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him.
Calling hours will be held in the Anderson Funeral Home, 25 Fitchburg Rd., Ayer, on Saturday, September 28, from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. Remarks of remembrance will be held at the conclusion of the calling hours. A funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 30, in St. Theresa the Little Flower Church 15 Still River Road, Route 110, Harvard, Massachusetts 01451.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the BU Law Black Law Students Association, The Black Public Defenders Association, The Massachusetts Bail Fund, or Worcester's Friendly House in honor of Adrian’s lifelong commitment to justice and service.
