June 22, 2024
Photo by Peter T. Michaelis
We lost a cherished friend. Parker was a one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-lifetime mate. Brains, beauty, humor, best at every thing she put her mind to. From boots to stilettos, she had great natural style. A Master of the Hunt, accomplished polo player, a world renowned shot, fabulous dancer, golfer and so on, but her greatest accomplishment was the cadre of friends she attracted, nurtured and shined her brilliant light upon. To have been in her cherished circle was a gift of enormous proportion. We feel robbed of the precious time with her that we will never come again.
Bruce Colley, the Founder & Co Chair of the Mashomack International Polo Challenge which Parker supported to the end, shares her memories.
Just like all of you, I wanted to get up publicly, to declare my love for Parker…..we will dearly miss her!
She was an amazing woman,full of life, and on a constant search for the next adventure.
She loved life, she fully embraced it,
She was beautiful, confident, & athletic.
She loved sports. Shooting, riding, hunting, polo & skiing.
She loved the outdoors.
She loved her horses & her dogs!
She loved the camaraderie.
She loved her friends.
She loved thrill of adventure.
She was a kindred spirit, full of adventure. We were lucky enough to meet many years ago. I think i first met her 40 years ago when dating an old friend Zack Bacon.
She somehow immediately fell into that best friend category.
Although at one point, I did consider a romantic fling with Parker, i never was so lucky. However she probably would added me the long list of broken hearts. There was a rumor she had walked from the alter more than a few times!
I started reflecting upon our friendship these last few days, and how many adventures we all had together!
As friends we had traveled the world.
We played polo Brazil, Argentina, Morocco, Egypt and Mashomack. We shot birds in Scotland, England, Spain, & NC. We skied together in Switzerland, & Colorado.
And as Hunt Masters, we fox hunted together throughout East coast US, England and Ireland.
Always seeking & planning the next adventure!
Wow, she was such a great friend and we will all miss her.
Somehow my wives never felt jealous of this friendship perhaps because they loved her as much and vis versa!
We will all miss her terribly and future adventures, just won’t be the same!
She had a special worldly sophistication mixed with a little country.
She could shoot better than most men.
Ride better than most men.
Ski better than most men.
And tell a joke better than most men!
But no question she was a woman. A Carolina girl!
You could take the girl out of the country but ….you couldn’t take the country out of the girl!
Just a few more photos to celebrate Parker life with friends.
The family wishes that donations in memory of Parker be sent to Hudson Valley Hospice for their compassionate care.
