Obituary of Parker Douglas Handy

Parker Douglas Handy III, 90, of Essex, CT, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on July 24, 2016. Parker was born in New York City on March 17, 1926, the son of Truman P. and Charlotte (Chalmers) Handy. While attending Berkshire School, MA, he enrolled in flying school and then joined the Army Air Corps where he served as a radar operator in the Pacific at the war's end. Upon completing his tour of duty, he graduated from Lawrenceville School, NJ and enrolled at Brown University. He received a BA in English from Brown in 1951 and was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, of which he remained a member throughout his life. Upon graduating from Brown, Parker pursued a career in advertising and marketing working as a vice president for Dancer, Fitzgerald-Sample, Inc., leading the first ever America the Beautiful campaign; director advertising at International Paper Company; marketing director City Trust; and market development Pepperidge Farm. He ended his working career as director of development of Connecticut Audubon, where he garnered resources for an organization that supported his lifelong passion of ornithology. Parker married Sally Woodbury in 1951 and they raised their family of five daughters in Fairfield, CT. All five girls attended Westover School, CT where Parker served on the Board of Trustees and helped raise funds for the School. Parker and Sally later moved to property his parents purchased in 1945 on Ram's Horn Creek in Lyme, CT. Parker was an avid outdoorsman and pursued his love of fishing and duck and upland bird hunting and traveled the world with his wife, Sally, in these pursuits. His passion for the outdoors spurred his support of Ducks Unlimited, Atlantic Salmon Federation and the National Wildlife Federation. His initials, P.D., gave him the affectionate nickname Puddle Duck Handy. Another of Parker's past times was painting, a talent and love he inherited from his father. His watercolors of game birds and fish were frequently donated to raise funds for the charitable organizations he supported. He was also an ardent animal lover and will be buried with his treasured Brittany Spaniel, Butter. Parker is survived by his wife Sally, his daughters Susan H. Stover and her husband Charles W. Collier of Dublin, NH, Gretchen H. Comstock and her husband Harwood B. of Essex, CT, Nancy H. Grogan and her husband Michael B. of Dedham, MA, Pamela H. Shepley and her husband Roger D. of Dedham, MA, Sally R. Handy and her husband Chris S. Pizey of Peaks Island, ME; twelve grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Above all, Parker, "Boom Boom" was beloved and will be remembered as a loving, caring and dedicated husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend and will be dearly missed by all. A memorial service will be held on September 25, 2016 at 2:00PM at The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, 4 Lyme Street in Old Lyme. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers contributions be made in Parker's honor to the Connecticut Audubon Society, 314 Unquowa Rd, Fairfield, CT 06824. To share a memory of Parker or send a condolence to his family please visit www.rwwfh.com . Arrangements by the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home in Centerbrook.