Robert T. Parker

Robert Tufts Parker, 96, of York, Maine passed away peacefully of natural causes at Scarborough Estates on June 6, 2025. Robert “Bob” Parker was born on June 11, 1928 in Claremont, NH to Clarence Perkins “CP” Parker from Somerville, MA and Katharine Parker (née Ryan) of Galena, Illinois. Bob deeply admired his father, who was a professional athlete and inspired Bob’s athletic pursuits. Bob graduated from Stevens High School in 1946 as a tri-letter athlete and New Hampshire All-State quarterback. Bob then attended Harvard College, where many of his classmates were recent veterans of WWII funded by GI Bill. He graduated from Harvard in 1950. In college, Bob took a "Sailing and Charting" class, which kindled a lifelong love of the ocean and boating: over the years, Bob purchased and restored several mahogany boats and took his family boating in places as various as Long Island Sound, Penobscot Bay, York Harbor, and Lake Winnipesaukee. His children and grandchildren remember these trips fondly.

Bob graduated from college during the outbreak of the Korean War. Bob enlisted in the Air Force and served for four years until he was honorably discharged in 1954. Bob began his service training at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, CO and Lackland Air Force Base in Texas and finished his service at Sampson Air Force Base in New York.

Bob met his wife, Thelma Parker (née Perras), during one of his college summer breaks and quickly fell in love with her. They married on July 26, 1952 while Bob was still serving in the Air Force. They moved to Geneva, New York where they had their daughter, Katharine. Bob always used to tell the story of how he and Thelma met on a double date. After the date, the pair sat on an old stone wall gazing at the sky and sharing stories and dreams. Bob was enchanted by Thelma’s hopeful and poetic spirit. When Thelma fell ill with dementia towards the end of her life, Bob devotedly cared for her for over ten years, keeping her comfortable in her home until she passed in 2022. Bob missed Thelma terribly.

Upon discharge from the Air Force, Bob began his long career in business. He started in sales and marketing at General Electric in Schenectady where Bob and Thelma’s son, Bob, Jr., was born. Bob then relocated to the Plastics Division of General Electric in Pittsfield, MA. Here, Tom and Leigh Ann were born. He then took a series of jobs within the paper industry, ultimately returning to the Berkshires as an employee of the Crane Paper Company in the Bank Note Division, where he became an expert in high-security bank note paper. Bob traveled the world for Crane, working with the central banks of governments in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and South America, which sparked a lifelong love of travel. By 1980, Bob and Thelma were partially retired and moved to Cape Cod and then later to Maine. During this time, Bob became the North American representative for the German company Kammerer Paper. Bob and Thelma made many good friends at these companies and even in retirement they traveled extensively throughout Europe and South America.

Bob and Thelma loved their grandchildren and planned their lives around them. They purchased a second home in Fort Collins, CO, where their two sons had settled so that they could regularly see their grandchildren. Bob and Thelma also owned second homes in Florida, where their grandchildren could visit them during vacations and where Bob could boat with family and friends. Bob and Thelma could always be seen on the sidelines or in the audience cheering their grandchildren on during games or school plays, with thousands of photos snapped in the process. Bob always had his camera with him.

Bob is survived by his daughter, Katharine Vogel and her husband, Arthur Vogel, of York, ME; son, Robert T. Parker, Jr. of Big Fork, MT; son, Thomas P. Parker and his wife, Ruth Parker, of Lenox, MA; daughter, Leigh Ann MacFarlane and her husband, John MacFarlane, of Boston, MA and Friendship, ME; grandchildren, John Bonaldi, Jr. and his wife, Marita Bonaldi, of York, ME; James Vogel of York, ME; Mark Vogel of Arnold, MD; Joseph Vogel and his wife, Shelley Vogel, of York, ME; Leah Parker of Pittsfield, MA; Amelia Parker of CO; Laura McGrail and her husband, Tim McGrail, of Southborough, MA. David Parker of Oregon; Katharine MacFarlane of New York, NY; Ian MacFarlane and his wife, Emma MacFarlane, of Boston, MA; and Matthew MacFarlane of Lebanon, NH; brother- in-law, Henry Perras and his wife, Barbara Perras, of Amherst, NH; Brother-in-law, Arnold Perras and his wife, Doreen Perras, of Dalton, MA; many great grandchildren and nieces and nephews on both the Parker and Perras sides of the family. Bob is predeceased by his wife, Thelma; his father, CP Parker, and mother, Katharine Parker, of Claremont, NH; his aunt, Edith Parker, of Claremont, NH; his brother, Clarence “Ace” Parker and his wife, Edna Parker, of Manchester, CT; his sister, Marilyn Rice and her husband, H. Hamilton “Hammy” Rice, Jr., of Claremont, NH; his brother John “Jack” Parker of Atlanta, GA; his brother-in-law Theodore “Buddy” Perras and his wife, Claire Perras, of Claremont, NH; Annette Parker, wife of Robert T. Parker, Jr. of Ft. Collins, CO, and Tory Parker, infant son of Robert T. Parker, Jr. and Annette Parker.

Bob was a social, engaging, energetic, curious, self-reliant, and tough man. He always liked meeting new people and was genuinely interested in learning more about them. Dinnertime with Bob was filled with entertaining stories about his adventures and travels and the people he had met over the years. He had a great sense of humor and was always happy to poke fun at himself. His mind was curious and active: he always had a new project he was tinkering on. He was up to date on every new technology and liked the challenge of figuring things out for himself. On home projects, Bob was always up for a challenge and always tried to do things himself. He was courageous and tough even during his final days, never complaining or showing fear, but graciously thanking those around him for their help and care. He was always a big presence to those around him. He loved and was loved dearly by his family. His grandchildren were always excited to see Grampa and to be greeted by a big hug and the “secret handshake.” He was a grand person in all ways.

He is sorely missed. May he rest in Peace in the Arms of of our Lord along with his beloved wife, Thelma.

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