John M. Parker

John Milton Parker, 89, called a truce on August 2, 2021, at his home.  Predeceased by his wife of 47 years Carole Parker, in 2007.   Survived by his son, John Parker and daughter-in- law Christine Parker; grandson, Asa Parker; sister-in-law Jean Moore; brother, David Parker; and sister, Linda Parker Dingle.  Irreverent but with an old school moral code, a 70's man both ahead and behind his time, the iconoclastic IBMer dispelled the "zipperhead" image, walking the 2 miles to work rain or shine, biked on the weekends and spent the much "discussed" sum of $300 on a ride during an era when about the only other bicyclists on American roads were under 12.   Heated his hot water with a more than occasionally maligned solar contraption that he'd built, heated his house with wood that he had harvested himself, using a whole house boiler that he had set up.  The avid skier, veteran, and golfer always marched to his own tune as long as it only played Gene Autry or Burle Ives and even then in strict moderation.   Once life took away his passions caregivers Cindy DiRenzo, Cheri Herceg, Sue Darpino O'Neil, Paula Babey and Amy Mccann gave him a spark and left the wink in his eye. Sticking by his side were friends and fellows ski patrollers, Bill Kellogg and Nick Babey, who picked up the slack after he'd outlived many of his Kennedy era friends, except for a few, including Bob Hankey. Every ski day was "Best ever!"  "Don't let the sun catch your ass in bed and don't make crumbs."  In lieu of flowers please consider a donation for NPH research at hydroassoc.org.  A "Celebration of Life" event will be held from 1:00 - 5:00 PM on September 18, 2021, at the Amercian Legion, 305 Maple St., Endicott, NY  13760.   Arrangements by Bednarsky Funeral Home, Inc.

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