When Chris and I sat down to have dinner at Dominick's we quickly knew we had to order Dad a beer and we set a place for him at our table ... it felt right.
This toast is to his legacy - please raise your glass:
'Although our world will be less without you, it was so much more special because you were in it. How grateful we are to have had you in our lives!
Here's to the best Dad anyone could hope for - love you'
A beautiful tribute to
Gordon Warren Parker
1935 – 2013
Eulogy written and read by Gordon’s daughter, Christine Parker
On November 8, 2013
Thank you all for coming today and sharing this celebration of Dad’s life. I know he’s so happy to know you’re all here.
We thought that Ralph Waldo Emerson’s words were very fitting as Dad had a way of touching people from all walks of life, and all ages – so many people have said to me, although they were in his company only once or a handful of times, he was a person you could know easily and enjoy fully – quite a remarkable gift to make people so at ease.
His gifts and talents were many:
- Smart, quick learner and had a voracious appetite for learning. He went back to earn his college degree in his 30's, where he excelled while balancing family, the demands of daily life, and excruciating back pain from an earlier injury. You could ask him a question on almost any portion of world history or a current world event, and he could have an informed and engaging conversation – even into recent months
- Great ability to overcome adversity – in these last years he amazed doctors with his degree of recovery given the severity of his limitations. He always vowed to Mom to drive again, and when the garage door mysteriously opened the other night, Mom thought he might be back to take the car for one last spin – it wouldn’t have surprised us
- Great Sense of humor – I remember so many gatherings where he was usually holding court in the kitchen – ours or someone else’s - telling stories and laughing until he & everyone else was in tears
- Loyal and Protective - He always had your back and would go to great lengths to help those he loved, through acts small and large
- Great capacity for warmth, kindness and compassion – He loved and showed love, in particular the affection he had for his sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews, daughters, and his beloved Jersey Girl, Ruthie. His best friend and sweetheart for nearly 60 years.
Terry and I want to take this opportunity to recognize and thank Mom for her unwavering dedication, compassion, and Yeoman’s work in taking such good care of Dad in recent years and especially this past year.
- Dad had a great sense of wonder, which made him a great teacher – he taught me and Terry to appreciate nature, music, and encouraged us to explore and learn about the world, and to always put our best foot forward and approach life with vibrancy, courage, grace, and compassion to those around us.
- Loved the upstate NY area and knew how to get anywhere by any back road – his preferred route by far
- Passion for cars and speed – he could even make our Subaru drive like a Ferrari when he wanted to, at least it seemed so to me riding shotgun at 8 years old
- Delighting people – he would always bring home a little surprise for me or Terry at the end of every school year for doing well, and he was center stage at my slumber parties, where my girlfriends would plead with him to read, yet again, Braer Rabbit vs. the Tar Baby with full-on old south character voices and animation - but I think he likely had even more fun that the girls did.
- Cooking and good food– best spaghetti and meatballs ever. Hands down.
- He loved is his home and working with his hands, and he loved sports – both playing, where he was a star athlete in high school and watching – his heartbreaking Buffalo Bills, slightly less heartbreaking SU teams
What he taught me:
- be strong
- be curious
- always put your best foot forward
- have no regrets and learn from your mistakes
- laugh often and out loud
- treasure and honor family
- above all, be an honorable human being
We all have our memories and influences of Dad, and in those many influences across each of us, he lives on.
May you rest in peace, Dad, and until we meet again, we love and honor you with our whole hearts.
Read by Gordon’s daughter, Terry Parker
On November 8, 2013
Opening:
It’s such a very hard day for everyone that loved Dad – as we all did. Today we honor his memory.
I truly don’t have words to express Dad’s influence on my life – what I can tell you, is that I learned to be who I am today through his many examples of how to live … and I do mean LIVE!
I’d like to share a poem today that rings true for me … as a tribute of how Dad lived his life, appreciated the beauty around him, and touched SO MANY people during his lifetime.
SUCCESS
~ Written by Ralph Waldo Emerson ~
He has achieved success
Who has lived well, laughed often and loved much;
Who has gained the respect of intelligent men, and the love of small children;
Who has filled his niche, and accomplished his task;
Who has left the world better than he found it, whether by a garden path,
a painted picture, or a rescued soul;
Who has never lacked appreciation of Earth’s beauty, or failed to express it;
Who has always looked for the best in others and given them the best he had;
Whose life has been an inspiration,
And whose memory is a blessing.
