Alan Parker

Alan F. Parker of Danville, Vermont, passed away in late hours of June 16 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center after a very brief illness. He was surrounded by loving family and friends, with the music, prayers, laughter and openness of heart that meant so much to him. For the past 10 years Alan served as the pastor to the United Church of Craftsbury.

Alan was born on Jan. 30, 1952 in Mt. Kisco, N.Y. At the age of one, Alan and the growing Parker family moved to the old Ward homestead in North Danville where they “learned” (quite slowly) how to farm. Alan grew up with a love of fishing, gardening, hunting, baseball, church and community. He lived in North Danville, Hardwick and Newport with his parents Scudder and Bets Parker and later in the Danville/St. Johnsbury area with his mother Bets and step-father C. Peter Albright. Alan graduated from St. Johnsbury Academy in 1970 and attended Wesleyan College. Alan, a passionate reader, thinker, historian, and independent learner, finished his bachelor’s degree at the Community College of Vermont. He could complete the NY Times crossword puzzle (even Sunday) even faster than he could get the dishes done.

Alan’s abiding love of music led him into an early career as a disc jockey for both WTWN/WSTJ in St. Johnsbury and WNCS in Montpelier. Alan could always summon the appropriate song for any occasion or to illuminate a story. Alan loved acting and singing in school and community musicals and Gilbert and Sullivan was memorized and would frequently erupt in unexpected situations, in chorus with his brothers. Most recently Alan found joy and comfort as a member of the hospice singing group Continua. Eleven members of Continua gathered on three hours notice at Dartmouth Hitchcock to sing for family and friends.

Alan cared deeply for agriculture and forestry, and believed that caring human use was part of a healthy environment. He worked for Northern Woodlands magazine, The Nature Conservancy, Ben & Jerry’s, Cabot Creamery, Kilfasset Farms, the Northern Organic Farmer’s Association, and the Dairy Herd Improvement Association.

Alan, like his father before him, studied for ordination with the Vermont Conference of the United Church of Christ and was ordained in 2013. He had begun preaching in 2006 at the United Church of Craftsbury. He quickly grew to love his congregation and the wider community. He understood that faith expresses itself most clearly in welcoming the stranger and building strong, trusting relationships. He was proud that the Church hosted community suppers; he cherished his relationship to Sterling College, served as President of the Board of Directors of the Craftsbury Community Care Center; and he kept learning from his parishioners and neighbors.

In his home community of Danville, Alan had served as a Deacon in the Danville Congregational Church, served on the Danville School Board; directed school plays and coached Little League baseball.

Alan was married to Elaine Grace Stone for 11 years. They had two children, Amos and Ben. Alan loved spending time with his family and friends, fishing with the boys in Houghton Brook, playing catch, reading bedtime stories (well past the boys’ bedtime) and working for hours in the garden.

Alan was married to Valerie Ducharme for 10 years and was a loving husband as well as step-father to Anthony, Josh, Adam, and Aimee Ducharme.

Alan and the love of his life, Ginny Flanders, built a rich and wonderful world together over the past 16 years, along with Ginny’s children Tamsin and Jed. They created a flourishing homestead, raising food, flowers and animals; fostering discussion of and support for social justice; and creating a place of welcome and comfort for family, friends and newcomers alike.

One of Alan’s final, but most loved roles was that of grandfather to George and William, Ben and Liz’s sons. Time with “Crampa” (as he was known by George) was precious, full of wonder, monkeying around, love, and being sung to sleep to “Amazing Grace.”

Alan is survived by his life-partner, Virginia Flanders, Danville; mother, Elizabeth (Bets) Parker Albright, Danville; sons Amos Parker (Jennifer Andrews), Dover, N.H.; Benjamin Parker (Elizabeth Steele Parker), Montpelier, Vt.; step-children Tamsin Flanders, western Mass.; and Jed Flanders, Eugene, Ore.; siblings Scudder Parker (Susan Sussman), Middlesex, Vt.; Stephen Parker (Susan Terry), North Danville, Vt.; Malcolm Parker (Julianna Simon), Addison, Vt.; step-siblings Barbara Albright (Jacob Allen), Tucson, Ariz.; Peter L. Albright (Karen Bucke Albright), Richmond, Va.; and Matthew Albright, Lyndonville, Vt.. He is also survived by his cherished grandchildren George and William Parker, great-uncle Van Parker (Lucille Parker), North Danville, Vt.; six cousins, nine nieces and nephews, and seven grand-nieces and nephews. Alan was predeceased by his father Scudder M. Parker, his step-father C. Peter Albright, and his sister Sally Cort Abdalla.

A celebration of Alan’s life will be held Monday, June 20 at 3 p.m., at The Danville Congregational Church, Danville, Vermont, with the Reverend Douglas Carter officiating. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, any special remembrances of Alan be in the form of contributions to the Craftsbury Community Care Center and/or the Pope Memorial Library for the Danville Community Center capital campaign.