Douglass S. Parker

Doug Parker was my instuctor at University of California, Riverside, for seven semesters of ancient Greek and one of Hellenic literature. I thoroughly enjoyed the man as well as the teacher -- his desk completely covered with open books placed upside down and piled one on top of the other to a great height, his erudition and great skill as a poet, and even his tobacco habits (though I'm a nonsmoker). He once described how he aged his pipe tobacco in the sun on the shelf of the back window of...

I took six of Dr. Parker's classes as an undergraduate at UC Riverside in the 50's, because I wanted to (none was required). Later on I became a faculty member myself and came to know him as a colleague. I will always remember with gratitude his encouragement, genial humor, and helpful advice. Ave atque vale.

Douglass Parker was a kind and decent and genial man, with learning both broad and deep, popular and well-liked on campus, and in my case particularly patient and forgiving of my not infrequent bad days as we worked through the curriculum in classics, whether in Greek or Latin. When I graduated "with honors," his personal note to me posted on his office door read, "Vicisti."

Joseph Winkler, UC Riverside '59

Doug was my first Latin teacher, the second time I tried to learn the language. (A third time may yet await, on the horizon!) I remember him creating unreadable word roots with the Klingon font on his MacIntosh, to force his students to look at the ends of words. A fine, brilliant man, and the only person of my acquaintance I am sure had read both "The Anatomy of Melancholy" and "Gargantua and Pantagruel"! ~Outis

There was no kinder heart, no finer soul, no readier wit, and no greater translator of Greek literature into English

Doug Parker was a great professor and scholar. His genial attitude made classes something to look forward to - there was something brilliant and delightfully whimsical about him, often at the same time. His course on Ovid's Metamorphosis, Virgil's Aeneid, and Parageography (I described the geographies in 'Dune') were highlights of my undergraduate career. He'll be missed. Condolences to the Parker family.