Robert Parlee

Our beloved Bob (Robert Kent) Parlee, born on October 6, 1953, died peacefully surrounded by his family in the care of hospice on September 17, 2024. Bob lived the last 4 years of his life graciously accepting each insult of his disease, making the best of the time he had with his family and drawing on the support and love of colleagues and friends.
Bob was raised in Wakefield MA. He spent summers with his family boating on Lake Winnipesauke and on the Essex River. Bob was an artist and spent his life making all manner of highly functional, beautiful things: high performance and utilitarian yachts, a floating upweller for his oyster farm, superb carbon fiber bicycles, fine finish work throughout his home in Essex to make life beautiful for his wife of 36 years. Bob founded Parlee Cycles in 2000 and together with the support of dedicated family, friends, employees and industry partners built the finest high-performance bikes and a world-renowned brand. Throughout his life, Bob's goal was to improve the form, function and beauty of whatever he was working on. He loved music, art, and any sport that would take him into the beauty and freedom of nature. And he was not done.
He is survived by his wife, Isabel, beloved sons Ian and Dylan, Dylan's wife Amanda and a granddaughter who will arrive in the New Year. He regretted leaving loving relatives and friends so soon.
The Parlees are holding a memorial celebration for Bob at the First Universalist Church of Essex at 59 Main Street in Essex at 3 p.m. on Saturday October 26th. Immediately following, there will be a gathering at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum. Dress for the weather as the party will be outside.
In lieu of donations and flowers please focus your energy and resources on taking care of each other, our democracy, and our beautiful planet.