A very friendly funny man I remember. You're are missed by many. Gone way too soon, but in our minds and hearts you'll be here until we meet again on the other side of the rainbow

Victor Williams

May 13, 2020

Snow, Duck, and myself were too young to drive, so Tims' mom used to drive us all around to our activities and we all would just be cracking up because she would grip the wheel with both hands and would twitch both thumbs constantly, non stop. We were always hanging out, when Don and Tim trashed Tims room they always blamed me. Tims mom hated me. Good times in the hood.
Always his friend,
Victor Williams

Lynn (Evans) Davidson

November 21, 2019

Fifty years ago a young English girl found herself in a bit of trouble whilst travelling in Morocco. Don came to the rescue. We escaped on a midnight bus rattling along the coast road from Agadir to Essaouira...and so the adventure began...Essaouira of 69...old medina teaming with life, fresh tuna steaks for pennies, delicious 'harira' served with lemon juice and dates, a hippy haunt (Hendrix lived there for a while), a decidedly trippy place...eating locusts, grilled over charcoal with a little shopkeeper amidst an Aladdin's cave of rugs and beautifully carved wooden boxes smelling of cedar and kif. After a week, we stuck out our thumbs and hitched our way to the port of Casablanca tasting the magic, mystery, and bewilderment of Morocco along the way. And receiving such generosity and hospitality from the people. Even the some of the most poor. Especially the poor. With every car, truck or wagon we rode - with every meeting - came the offer of mint tea, couscous in their homes and offers of a bed for the night and, in one case, a whole week with the family during the festival of the sheep.
So we experienced the ritual sacrifice of the ram that was dragged kicking and bleating into the courtyard (every family brings one home for the festival, a bit like our roast turkey at Christmas) soon we were eating kebabs cooked over glowing charcoal and being offered the main delicacy - sheep's eye (to honour their guests) from the roasted head... One night we were woken by the terrifying shaking of walls and thunderous noise - and screams of "tremblement de terre!" The whole earth was truly trembling and panic surrounded us. People fled the town to seek refuge from what was a powerful earthquake but was fortunately centered just off the coast.

We stopped off at surf spots. We walked the wild and deserted coastline. We stayed a while in Safi (I had an infected foot), El Jadida (Mohamed insisted on giving us a guided tour of everything and anything), and Kenitra. We stayed with local people, American VS, with other surfers and travellers on the floor of an empty building at Medhya Plage ("About Mehdya Plage First surfed in 1964 when a board reached the nearby US military base, this is the cradle of surfing in Morocco. The powerful Moone righthander breaking along the south jetty is "). It was at Mehdya Plage that I first heard the 'mind blowing' and very timely Doors album "Strange Days". It is still so evocative of those times. The guys from the military base actually had a record player.....

We made it Casa just in time to get a ticket for the boat (£16 for a four day trip, a banquette bed and 3 good meals a day - with wine) where we were warned not to go out at night, by Moroccans! It seemed a pretty scary place, unlike the rest of Morocco. And a whole bunch of us loaded ourselves onto the "Leopard" a French boat headed for Southhampton. Back to the grey, damp, chilly and prosaic world of England. (Read "Hideous Kinky" or see the film to get a taste of Morocco in the sixties).My parents were waiting at the dockside as this rather spaced out bunch of hippies straggled off the boat with their (equally bedraggled and sun-bronzed and bleached) still-limping teenage daughter - who would never be the same again. The following winter I was back in Morocco for more adventures. It became my soul country and still is.

I felt safe with Don. We had some weird and wonderful days. Days that seemed timeless and totally unpredictable. Vast. I was pretty much fresh out of school in the suburbs of London, so hitching through Morocco with this cool guy from San Diego was so beyond my tiny experience of life up to that point. Don looked after me and looked out for me - he needed to probably because I was incredibly wide-eyed and naïve. I don't think that he could quite believe how come this shy little English girl was even there...
I was rather in awe of him. He knew so much more about travelling, and everything else. He had a sense of humour which was strange to me - not "terribly English" but "California cool". And he seemed so wise and comfortable in his own skin, compared to my shyness and schoolgirl awkwardness. He had a notebook in which he drew beautiful coloured (psychedelic ) pictures of perfect waves and rainbows) and the mantras that were going around in those days like Leary's "Turn on, tune in, drop out".

We didn't really talk that much, it seems, as I look back at those days. We were creatures from such different worlds in a country which stretched the boundaries of reality but we truly lived those crazy days as they came along and we stuck together. I still have vivid images of those times, of Don (with his impressive full name which included the "III" at the end - I'd never come across that before, mine seemed so ordinary in comparison). He had such a neat and healthy appearance with his mane of surfers hair and the tidy beard (he was so different to most English boys). His clothes always seemed to be clean, well-folded and in order, so he looked good in whatever T-shirt, jeans or shorts he wore. My clothes were totally inappropriate for travelling...so much so that it made Don laugh incredulously. But we made it to England and kept in touch for a while.
I last saw him in Cornwall...St Ives or Newquay...we had mutual friends...Lumpy, Chris Cannings, Pete Russell. I tried a few times to track him down later, as I tried today. And this time I came across his obituary and a picture of him.
I wish I had one of him from fifty years ago (I didn't carry a camera, nor he, .those unimaginable days before mobile phones and selfies) - we were beautiful young people on one of our adventures of a life time with many more to follow. And I was very fortunate to have known him, very grateful that he rescued me and that he kind of tolerated - in a rather bemused and gentle way - my naivety. It might have been easier for him to have been hitching alone rather than having me tagging along. But I hope that he too had some good memories of those hazy, crazy days.....

I'm really happy to know, through the other testaments here from family and friends, that he was so much loved and had a good life. He was, even fifty years ago, a true surfer, most definitely a searcher, a good guy and, yes, a bit of a 'holy man'...

stuart barnes

March 16, 2014

Yea bro Don, knew you're on the net somewhere's how I found out you'd left. Always will keep your number and the memories of your soulful spirit. Mahalo in heaven, your friend Stuart Scott Barnes.

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Sandi Lobacki-Strang

June 28, 2013

I am so deeply sadden to hear about Parkers passing. I new Parker many, many years ago in Peterborough NH, he was a loving, caring and sweet man and I will be forever thankful our paths crossed.
My heart and prayers go out to his son and family.

Ned Henderson

May 26, 2013

I will miss Parker as I would miss a true brother.We spent alot of time together and went on great adventures. The best memories were surfing the North Shore together before it was crowded.Parker was a trail blazer and a bit of a holy man.He's in a better place and I hope riding perfect waves. Aloha brother, Ned

May 25, 2013

Aloha Donnie,
We travelled to India together in 1972 with your short tri-fin surf board. I remember camping on a beach with pretty good surf for a month in Goa. We were there at Christmas. We looked at maps and where a river mouth was, we thought there might be surf. That took us to towns where NO tourists ever came, and no one spoke English. Smiles will open lots of doors. Locals followed us to the beach and watched you surf. Kids tried to ride the waves on your board. One town police chief couldn't understand what the surf board was, and you described it as "a small boat".
It was an adventure traveling with you. We shared a lot of love and you'll always have a place in my heart.
Your one-time girl friend, Katie Henderson

May 20, 2013

I've been thinking of you for the last hour and how snow's mom used to drive the three of us around town (pre-16) and we'd be crackin' up watching her twitch her thumbs non-stop while driving.
You'll be missed and remembered. What more can we ask for?

Victor Williams
Ramona

Joanie Schauf

May 20, 2013

Don you will be greatly missed. You and Richard were good friends and I thank you for that. I will pray for Shane, your family and friends. I know the Lord is taking good care of you. He will also take good care of those you left behind. So ride those big waves ......

The Hunter Family

May 19, 2013

Dearest Parker, We were stunned by the news of your passing. We're so glad we got to know you--that you were a part of our lives. But, It's hard to imagine not getting to see you again. You were always a good friend. We all have some special memories of happier days. Our love to you, your son Shane, and your extended family. You will be missed and ever in our thoughts and prayers. God Bless you on your journey. We'll see you again some day. Your friends, Mark, Linda and Anna Hunter

Don and his mother, Evelyn a few months ago

May 19, 2013

"Donnie Duck"

Steve Cook

May 19, 2013

Donnie was our Peter Pan. He was an outstanding surfer, a world traveler, had a dynamite quick wit and an insane sense of humor. We all had a lot of adventures together in our youth. He inspired us at a time when we needed inspiration. We miss him but treasure our memories. Aloha Brother!

Dorothea McNalley Gillihan

May 19, 2013

So very sorry to hear about Don. We were classmates from elementary school. As so often happens we grew apart as we grew up. May he rest peacfully.

Richard Schauf

May 19, 2013

I'll miss you Don! We had a lot of good times this last year and many memories and good times. You gave all your surf buddies names and who could forget the surfers garage? The wave chatter and competition. I loved your parents and the funny stories they shared. You were always there for me the last 6 months to give me rides to the VA hospital which were as exciting as the Big Dipper at Belmont Park. I don't have a lot of friends that go back to 14 years old and all the crazy stuff we did. I'm sure the other Gophers feel the ssme. You always made us smile and laugh. Always your bud, Dickie "Harb, Harpo, Marx" you used them all!

May 19, 2013

So sorry to hear of Don's passing. He will be fondly remember by the class of '64.
Diane (Anderson) Keltner, Alpine Ca.

Jerry Pondelicek

May 19, 2013

Hey Parker, I have known you forever but sadly didn't spend much time with you. The few times we talked was like two old friends remembering high school and the beach. I was still learning to surf when l surfed with you. I had Ned Henderson's 9' 9" Brown surf board. You laughed a lot but gave me some good pointers. Watching you, Sabbetti, Snow, Ned Henderson, Neil Ducker and a few others surf got me going to the beach everyday. Just want to thank you for taking time to show me. You now have an Endless Summer. Rest in peace.
Gloria & Jerry

Steve Gibson

May 19, 2013

Many happy memories of times together near and far. So sorry for the loss to your family and friends. Always remembered fondly in my heart forever.

Shane's graduation

May 19, 2013

Terry Deneen

May 19, 2013

My brother, Don, loved all people and animals. He did not have a mean bone in his body. May we all be as loving, forgiving, kind and peaceful as he was to everyone.

Barry Quinn

May 19, 2013

Having a hard time thinking about a guy that looked good a couple of months ago and now is gone. Unbelievable, hope your at peace, we'll miss you at the Rec center and I hope the waves are good where your at. I'll miss you, it's so sad for us and all your family. Goodbye Don, God bless.

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