DAVID PARRY

Just days before his death on Wednesday morning, Dave Parry blasted Molly Hatchet through the speakers beside his bed. “Put on Flirtin’ with Disaster,” he directed his son Adam. The house shook. Cancer wouldn’t get the last word. Dave would. Dave was a fiercely independent rule breaker. He questioned authority, drove his car fast, and could tell you the right way to do anything, whether you asked for his advice or not. He was born David Parry, the son of Helen and Gil, and brother to Linda and Mark, with whom he raised hell. He spent most of his life as a resident of Clifton, NJ, where he met his wife Doreen and raised two sons, Adam and Aaron. Dave said he didn’t want to dilute the meaning of the words “I love you,” so he used them sparingly. But Dave wholeheartedly loved his family, including his grandkids—Landon and Jaxie—who spent summers splashing in the pool beside him. Dave loved nature. He spent the last years of his life creating his dream home with Doreen on land they shared with bald eagles, nesting turtles, and bears lumbering across the backyard. Dave loved his friends, who brought out the best in him, and he, in them. He never realized the difference he made in so many of our lives. To Dave, it was just what you do. Be there. Show up for people. But in these final weeks, as his phone rang off the hook, and friend after friend appeared at his door (even a pandemic couldn’t keep them away), Dave started to see the impact he’d made. He was a dedicated employee of the Port Authority of NJ for 30 years, a committed Scout leader for his sons and their friends, and a lifelong NY sports fan, especially the NY Giants. He was an avid golfer, a fearless snowboarder, and a talented landscaper. The world was more beautiful and exciting because he was in it. Dave lives on in his wife, Doreen Verones-Parry; his sister, Linda Parry Carney; his adult sons, Adam Parry and Aaron Parry; his daughters-in-law, Maren Vespia and Amanda Parry; his grandkids, Landon and Jacqueline Parry; his sisters-in-law; nieces and nephews; and the countless plants he grew throughout his life. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to protect the people and places Dave loved: The National Down Syndrome Society is the leading human rights organization for all individuals with Down syndrome. This charity works to create a world in which all people with Down syndrome have the opportunity to enhance their quality of life, realize their life aspirations, and become valued members of welcoming communities. Based in New York and founded in 1979, the National Down Syndrome Society’s activities include shaping and advocating for improved public policy, increased public resources and services for people with Down syndrome; improving educational opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome; advancing basic, clinical and applied research; and raising public awareness. A meaningful and smart investment: This charity receives the highest (four star) rating on Charity Navigator and GuideStar's Platinum Seal of Transparency. New Jersey Conservation Foundation is on a mission to preserve land and natural resources throughout New Jersey for the benefit of all. The foundation protects strategic lands, promotes strong land use policies, and forges partnerships through education and assistance programs to achieve conservation goals. Since 1960, New Jersey Conservation Foundation has protected over 125,000 acres of natural areas and farmland in New Jersey – from the Highlands to the Pine Barrens to the Delaware Bay, from farms to forests to urban and suburban parks. You can explore recent conservation projects in places you love.

DAVID PARRY

October 29, 1956 - June 17, 2020