Rima Zevin Parkhurst

1928 - 2025

Rima Zevin Parkhurst, local activist and avid supporter of the arts, died peacefully in the early morning of Wednesday June 18th at Talbot Hospice in Easton where she had moved only 6 days previously. A memorial service will be held later this year.

Rima was born on January 2nd, 1928 in Cleveland, Ohio. During the 60s and 70s in Washington DC she was a driving force in a number of political arenas--as the Assistant Director the American Civil Liberties Union, the Executive Director of the Democratic National Committee's Democratic Advisory Council, and the first Director of Government Affairs at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts ... a job she truly enjoyed because she could attend every performance!

Next, as Vice President of Passenger Services she was the first woman to hold a Vice Presidency at AMTRAK. Subsequently, she and her colleague Sandy Spence formed Parkhurst-Spence Consultants, a political consultancy business. Before retiring to Easton, Rima worked closely with former Senator Birch Bayh in his law firm, Rivkin, Radler, Dunne & Bayh.

Upon moving to Easton, and continuing her love of the arts, she became involved with several community arts organizations, serving on the boards for the Academy Art Museum, the Chesapeake Chamber Music Society, and the Talbot Arts Council. She continued her quest for social justice as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children for many years in Talbot County. While she confessed that this work was emotionally challenging, she found that protecting these vulnerable children became her favorite and hardest job.

Rima was a force of nature and a passionate lifelong learner with a voracious curiosity; reading widely and voluminously, talking avidly to anyone with interesting information - and to her, it was ALL interesting information. She became a minor celebrity in town riding around into her 90s on her green Metropolitan scooter. She valued the independence and autonomy she had fought so hard to gain and especially as she aged, her constant refrain when offered help was "I can do it myself". Never a patient woman, she ran at life with her arms open wide and lived a life of delight and service. She will be sorely missed by her family and many friends.

Rima is survived by her children Candace Julyan (David Hancock), David Julyan (Pam Julyan), Mark Julyan (Cynthia Julyan) and Brooke Parkhurst (Mary Panesis), and by her six grandchildren: Travis, Seth, Ashley, Matthew, Alex, and Nigel, and by her four great grandchildren: Max, Grady, Ida, and Jackson.

Donations to CASA (casamidshore.org/donate) in Rima's name would be most appropriate and appreciated.