Parker Davidson Thomson

THOMSON, PARKER DAVIDSON, 85 Husband, family man, friend, attorney, philanthropist, civic giant, community leader, and polymath. Parker passed away on November 3, 2017 after complications with a heart procedure. A Coral Gables resident and acclaimed Princeton and Harvard-educated litigator with expertise in complex constitutional matters, he led groundbreaking first amendment, environmental, mental health, and justice system cases. He argued three times before the U.S. Supreme Court and over sixty times before the Florida Supreme Court. He eased the load of public defenders to better represent their clients. He protected the Everglades and interstate water. He was a public servant who devoted hundreds of thousands of pro bono hours to create the world-class Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. He partnered with his daughter on The Underline 10-mile linear park and trail below Metrorail. He helped found the County's Cultural Affairs Council, and was a founding board member of Miami Music Project. He spearheaded the Collins Center, a think tank on public policy. After son Sayres was born seriously disabled, he and wife Vann were leaders at the Mental Health Association and established handicap access standards for Florida. The man was larger than life, a visionary, an inspiration, a teacher, tenacious, curious, and he loved people. But to his wife of sixty-two years (and his first girlfriend) he was David, his mother Margaret's nickname, and to the kids he was dad. He adored his wife. He was a voracious reader. He loved poetry. He sailed. He hugged dogs. He climbed mountains. He conquered crosswords. He was spiritual. He went to sleep late and woke up early. He worked hard. He was a listener. He loved peppermint stick ice cream and black licorice. He made us believe we were better than we are and should do more than we want to. Good was okay, great was better. We glowed in his light. When asked "How are you dad?" he answered "Better for seeing you." It was a joyful adventure being your wife and a privilege being your children. And, we were always better for seeing you. He is survived by wife Vann, children Parker & Jeanette Thomson, Jamieson & Robert Thomas, Meg & John Daly, and Peter Thomson, 9 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Celebrate his life on 11/11, 3 PM at the Knight Concert Hall at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. In lieu of flowers donate in his name to TheUnderline.org8