Richard Lee (“Rich”) Parker, 79, of Hanson, MA passed away on August 3, 2024, following a brief but courageous battle with cancer. Richard was born in San Francisco, California to his loving parents, Margaret (“Peggy”) and William (“Bill”) Parker. Soon after, Peggy and Bill settled down in Abington where they raised Rich and his beloved younger brother, Ron. As a young man, Rich was known to “push the envelope” a bit - he shared many mischievous experiences with his childhood friends. Many of those friendships carried on through late adulthood, with Rich visiting one of his lifelong friends only a week before his passing.
Rich was a proud United States Marine. He was steadfast in his support of our Country and its flag.
Rich was known for his quick wit, his big heart (cleverly disguised by a tough exterior) and his brilliant mind. He graduated from Abington High School and went on to study Mechanical Engineering at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, MA. Over the course of his career, he worked for a number of companies as a well-respected Mechanical Engineer, such as Ortho Diagnostics (a division of Johnson & Johnson). Rich was very proud of his work as a Mechanical Engineer and took pride in designing/building machines which assisted in biomedical instrumentation for both clinical and research equipment. He ultimately retired from Compucyte Corporation in Boston, after many years. Following his retirement, Rich maintained his interest in his chosen field. He stayed in touch with many work colleagues/co-workers, who became lifelong friends.
Rich was always there to help and there was nothing that he couldn’t fix. He often said that “If you can take it apart, you can put it back together,’’ likely talking about brakes on a car that he may have been fixing in the driveway (in the snow, during a cold winter day) with/for one of his children. Richard passed on his expansive knowledge to his best friend and son, Mike. Mike and Rich took on innumerable projects, side by side, from the time that Mike was a child. Under the direction and watchful eye of his beloved Dad, Mike learned about automotive repairs, carpentry and mechanics. Mike watched while his Dad took on plumbing and electrical home repairs – which likely led Mike to be a
very skilled electrician who also can “do and fix anything.” Rich also helped his son-in- law, Jeff, guiding him with his knowledge on many home-improvement projects. Jeff adored Rich and will be forever grateful for his knowledge and help.
Above all, Rich adored his family. They will forever be devastated by his passing. Rich was an amazing son to his parents and took wonderful care of them. Following the passing of his father, Bill, Rich was fortunate to enjoy a close relationship with Peggy’s second husband, Jack Force, as well as Jack’s family. Rich and Jack spent many hours talking and debating about/over sports, politics, and life, in general. Rich visited Peggy and Jack every day, just to make sure that they were okay as they aged.
Rich is survived by his beloved son, Michael (“Mike”) of Hanson, MA, and his daughter, Renee (and her husband, Jeff) of Rockland, MA. He adored his children and was so proud of them. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Meghan (and her fiancé Douglas) of Dorchester, MA, Benjamin of Hanson, MA, and Dylan of Plympton, MA. Rich will also be missed by his ex-wife, Lorrie Parker and her husband, Paul Colletti,
with whom he enjoyed a close relationship until the time of his passing. Rich is predeceased by his brother, Ronald “Ron” Parker and Ron’s son, Todd Parker. He is survived by Ron’s wife, Cindy (and her husband Peter), and his nephew Ryan, as well as Ryan’s and Todd’s families.
Richard’s family will be forever grateful for the care he received at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA, following his diagnosis and up until his passing. His comfort was of the utmost importance to his family and his dedicated care team ensured that Rich’s final moments were peaceful.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend visiting hours from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 8, 2024, at Blanchard’s Funeral Chapel at 666 Plymouth Street, Whitman, MA. On Friday, August 9, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., a service will be held at Blanchard’s Funeral Chapel, followed by burial at Fern Hill Cemetery in Hanson, MA.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society in Rich’s name.