URI Receives $2.5 Million in Estate Gifts from Alumni Brothers David Parker '34 and John Parker '40
Estate Gifts Received in 2012 will Support the Library and the College of Engineering
(January 8, 2013 – Kingston, RI) - With their affinity for the University of Rhode Island equaled only by their love of sailing, URI alumni John and David Parker provided approximately $2.5 million for their alma mater in their estate plans, it was announced today by the University of Rhode Island Foundation.
The University has received the proceeds from the brothers’ estates and the generous bequests will be used primarily to support the College of Engineering as it embarks on a new building campaign. A portion of the funds were also earmarked by the late David and John Parker, the latter of whom served as a professor at the College of Engineering for many years, to fund two endowments. The first, the Dr. Malcolm L. & Nicole Spaulding Scholarship in Ocean Engineering, is an existing endowment fund that provides scholarship funding to undergraduate students studying ocean engineering. The other endowment, the John Parker and David E. Parker Library Endowment, created by and named for the brothers, provides library resources to support the engineering curriculum.
URI President David M. Dooley expressed his gratitude for the gift, saying, “This is a very significant gift and is, in fact, one of the largest bequests ever received by the University. I am told that John Parker was a wonderful and much-admired professor and member of the University community. His generosity, as well as that of his brother, David, will stand as a lasting tribute to the brothers’ commitment to this university and to the profession of engineering. A great number of students will benefit both directly and indirectly from this gift for many generations.”
John and David Parker were the sons of a Westerly granite quarry worker, who, along with his wife, placed a priority on their sons’ educations. After finishing college, the brothers shared a home and lived modestly on the banks of the Pawcatuck River for many decades. Well known as highly competitive and skilled sailors, they also spent much of their time building skiffs, which they donated to the URI Graduate School of Oceanography. They also spent a great deal of time racing as members of the Watch Hill Yacht Club.
David Parker, the eldest brother and more private of the two, received his undergraduate degree in chemistry from the URI College of Arts and Sciences in 1934. He worked as a chemist for the Naval Underwater Systems Center in New London for many years, retiring in 1972. He passed away in 2001. His younger brother John, a 1940 engineering graduate, received his master’s in mechanical engineering (University of Michigan) in 1950, and served as a professor of mechanical engineering on URI’s Kingston campus for 25 years, retiring in 1977. Before coming to work at URI, he served as an engineering instructor at the University of Connecticut and before that, was a Navy Lieutenant. After retirement, John Parker became treasurer of the URI Alumni Association. He received a highly regarded Ram Award in 1975 for his involvement in campus activities. John died in June 2011 at the age of 93.
College of Engineering Dean Raymond Wright notes, “The Parker brothers’ gifts will have a tremendous impact on the College and its students, providing significant support to a number of college priorities, including the College of Engineering Future Fund, the mechanical engineering department and scholarships. John was a valued member of the College faculty in his day. He was well respected and passionately committed to teaching students about engineering. The philanthropic support from John and his brother David will have a tangible effect on the College, its faculty and students.”
Robert Clough, associate dean for development at the College of Engineering, who befriended John Parker over the last 15 years or so, said, “John told many stories about his time at URI, and was always eager to share his insights, whether they be about the College, the department of mechanical engineering or sailing, which he enjoyed tremendously. One of his favorite recollections was from the 1950s when the construction of Wales Hall was being planned. Apparently the provost at the time came to the mechanical engineering department and presented John and his colleagues with $300,000 and told them to get the building built. John enjoyed working on that project and his affinity for URI was evident. He was a very proud alum.”
Anita Horrigan, neighbor and close friend of the Parkers for many years, recalled the pride both brothers had in their alma mater. “They spoke very fondly of their time at the University of Rhode Island. John, in particular, because he had been a professor there, often reminisced about the engineering department and his years working with students. He said he was tough on the students he taught, believing in hard work and rigorous studying, and that he ‘would not have wanted to have me’ as a professor.” She added, “Both John and David were firm believers in supporting engineering and valued their roles as mentors to students, even in retirement. They were really wonderful gentlemen.”
For more information on making a planned gift to the University of Rhode Island, contact the URI Foundation Office of Gift Planning at 401.874.7900 or email foundation@uri.edu. To learn more about the impact of giving on the University of Rhode Island, visit www.urifoundation.org.
Photo Note: John Parker is featured here in his URI Grist yearbook senior photo, 1940.
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