Gerard Parker

Gerard "Gerry" Parker, aged 84, passed away at home on August 18, 2024, in San Rafael, CA. A longtime resident of Marin County, Gerry was born on May 25, 1940, in Somerville, MA, to Gerard "Lefty" Parker and Gertrude Parker.

Gerry graduated from Boston College in 1962 with a BA in English Literature. From 1962 to1966, he served as an infantry officer in the Marine Corps, including a tour in Vietnam as a rifle company executive officer. Upon completion of his active service, he attended graduate school at l'Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium, and then worked in London for the international trade exhibition company, The Montgomery Group, Ltd.

Upon moving back to the States, Gerry worked in TV and Film in San Francisco. He was then hired to open the US subsidiary of Montgomery Group, which led him to travel extensively throughout Asia and Europe. After opening his own office in Mill Valley, he embarked on an entrepreneurial career in international marketing.

From February 2013 until 2023, Gerry served as the Executive Director of the Korean War Memorial Foundation, which stands in the Presidio adjacent to the San Francisco National Cemetery. He played an instrumental role in fundraising, designing and overseeing construction of this memorial to all those who fought in the so-called "Forgotten War," creating a site to educate future generations about those sacrifices.

Gerry was deeply connected to Marin County, where he resided for over fifty years, first in Mill Valley and then San Rafael. An avid hiker, he was intimately familiar with every trail on Mount Tamalpais and Point Reyes. He loved nothing more than backpacking in the Sierras.

Gerry is survived by his brother, John "Jack" Parker and wife Jacqueline, of Gloucester, MA; daughters Johanna Parker of Santa Fe, NM, and Caitlin Parker and husband David Markowitz of Los Angeles, CA; and grandchildren, Rory Parker and Ronan Markowitz; and former spouse Linda Parker of Sausalito, CA. He was preceded in death by his brother, Robert Parker.

Gerry's positivity and generosity were traits recognized by all who knew him. He was a devoted father and grandfather, always cheering on his daughters and making the grandkids laugh, reading them books, playing games and sharing stories. He loved a good story and was never afraid to tell it more than once, or even a hundred times. His passion for - and encyclopedic knowledge of - jazz, classic films, politics, literature and history were infectious. He could recite lines from his favorite films verbatim - and he often did. He could just as easily quote pages of poetry, W.H. Auden and Dylan Thomas being two of his favorites. He was a beloved and respected member of The Marines Memorial Club. He loved his fellow Marines, Semper Fidelis. He will be missed dearly by all those lucky enough to have known him.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Marines' Memorial Association.