JAMES "JC" PARRY

PARRY JAMES PARRY "JC" Passed away on December 31, 2017 after over two years courageously battling pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his devoted and loving wife, Donna of almost 34 years; and an extended family of long-time and loyal friends from the many phases of his rich and full life. He spent his last weeks in intensive care at Georgetown Hospital with Donna. Many friends visited and were able to say their final goodbyes to him in person. He loved teaching, golf, the Washington Mystics, and dining at RIS. JC was originally from Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. In 1970, he graduated from Lehigh University with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Upon graduation, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force and entered pilot training. His first assignment was flying EC-121 airborne early warning radar aircraft in the Vietnam conflict and in Iceland. In 1978, he retrained into the C-5 aircraft and was assigned to the 9th Military Airlift Squadron at Dover Air Force Base (AFB), Delaware. As a C5 pilot, he provided an intercontinental strategic airlift capability in support of military operations, humanitarian aid, and disaster relief around the world. While stationed at Dover, JC met Donna Higgins, an Air Force maintenance officer. Despite the challenges inherent in dual-military careers, they became inseparable and married in 1984. After flying C5s, he was assigned as the Chief of Flight Safety at the 21st Air Force, McGuire AFB, New Jersey, and then was the Airlift flight safety officer at the Air Force Inspection and Safety Center, at Norton AFB in California. In 1986 he transitioned to providing command and control for ongoing air operations, first for the Wing at Kirkland AFB in New Mexico, and then for 22nd Air Force, at Travis AFB in California. During Desert Storm he twice volunteered for deployment to provide command and control of combat operations in Southwest Asia. In 1993, after twenty-two years of service, he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. Following retirement, JC returned to Iceland when the Air Force assigned Donna to Keflavik Air Base, Reykjavik. At Keflavik, he became a substitute teacher for the Department of Defense Dependent Schools and like many former members of the military, found a new calling teaching young people. When JC and Donna returned to Washington DC area in 1995, JC entered Marymount University, earning a master's degree in education. Upon graduation, he taught 5th grade in Arlington Public Schools for two years. He then accepted a position at the Arlington Career Center teaching the FAA Private Pilot Ground School, Engineering, and Computer Aided Drafting and combined his two passions - flying and teaching. In July 2015, JC was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and began treatment at the Ruesch Center, a part of the Lombardi Cancer Center at Georgetown University Hospital. He continued to teach through his first round of chemotherapy, until he had major surgery in May 2016 and retired from teaching in June 2016 to concentrate on battling cancer with Donna by his side. JC's loving and giving spirit did not end with his passing. In addition to living in the memories of the many people who loved him, he arranged for his body be donated to the Georgetown Medical School, contributing to the education of future physicians and the advancement of medicine. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held on what would have been his 70th birthday, February 10 at 11 a.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 5533 North 16th Street, Arlington, VA, followed by a celebration at RIS, 2275 L St NW, Washington DC. If you plan to attend the celebration at RIS, please call 202-730-2500 and RSVP. His final resting place will be in Arlington Memorial Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to The Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center in memory of JC Parry Research Grant, Attn: Alex Tauscher, The Ruesch Center Office of Development,3300 Whitehaven St., NW, Ste 4000,Washington, DC 20007 or via ruesch.georgetown.edu/gift.In">ruesch.georgetown.edu/gift.In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to The Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center in memory of JC Parry Research Grant, Attn: Alex Tauscher, The Ruesch Center Office of Development,3300 Whitehaven St., NW, Ste 4000,Washington, DC 20007 or via ruesch.georgetown.edu/gift.