Richard "Dick" Parmett

1934 - 2022

Richard "Dick" Parmett

Florence, MA — Richard "Dick" Parmett passed away at the Cooley Dickinson Hospital on Sunday, June 26th of complications of Parkinson. He was surrounded by his loving wife Elaine and his two daughters, Karen and Ruthie. The world lost a very gentle, kind, caring, loving human being. He so loved living and working in Shelburne Falls. We made the tough decision to move to Northampton to take advantage of less driving, a more sophisticated hospital and lots of fine colleges. Covid has made this move more challenging.

Richard fiercely fought this disease with spirit, determination and a love of life, family and friends for 25 years. He was born September 18, 1934 in Worcester, MA to Irving and Doris (Rosenfield) Parmett. He met his wife Elaine (Abt) in Braintree, MA where he had his first general dentistry practice. They shared a special bond and love for 56 years. He leaves behind his two daughters, Karen Parmett and her husband Charlie Allen and four grandchildren-Ilan, Nili, Tali and Gwei and Ruthie Parmett and her son Cassius. He survived by his sister Nancy Messinger and her husband Sheldon of New Haven, Ct. and their children Seth (Tracy) and Caleb and Jonathan Messinger.

He graduated from Tufts Dental School in 1958. After his stint as an officer in the Navy Department in Maryland, he did a year-long rotation as an Anesthesiologist in Waterbury, Ct. While in the Navy he bought and flew a small plane. Following that, he started his dental practice in Braintree until he moved his family to Shelburne Falls (Buckland), Ma in 1974. Everyone loved Dr. Parmett. He based his practice on caring, knowing his patients as individuals and helping them to have healthy mouths.

During his years in Buckland, he volunteered at The Mohawk Trail Concerts as stage manager and later served as treasurer for the Arms Library. Many lovingly called him "Doc".

Richard was a Renaissance man of literature, nature, finance, and political injustices. For many years he ran the Bridge of Flowers Road Race, cross country skied and snowshoed. He enjoyed being a member of the Boswell Book Club in Shelburne Falls and a Talmud Study group that recently has been meeting on zoom. The participants are from California, Greenfield, Charlemont, Shelburne and are of many religions working to understand Jewish thinking.

Richard passed away with a copy of Abraham Joshua Heschel's book The Sabbath on his lap.

A funeral service will be held Wednesday, June 29th at 10:30 a.m. at Congregation B'nai Israel in Northampton. Burial will follow at the Hand in Hand Cemetery in West Roxbury, Ma.at 1:30 p.m.

The Ascher Zimmerman Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Shiva will be set on Wednesday and Thursday evening starting at 7 p.m. at their home at 68 Pine Street, Florence, Ma. All are welcome.