Exeter, NH
Robert Seymour Parsons (Bob), 92, passed peacefully from a stroke on Oct. 7, 2021. His loving family was at his bedside during his passing. He was born March 24, 1929, in Schenectady, N.Y., the son of Ernest Taylor and Marion Eleanor (Wendell) Parsons. He was descended from 17th century pioneer Cornet Joseph Parsons, who settled western Massachusetts, founding the town of East Hampton, Mass.
Bob was a talented athlete and ran hurdles on his Weymouth, Mass., high school state championship team. His family moved to Manchester, N.H., where he graduated from Central High School. He then matriculated at the University of New Hampshire, graduating in 1953 with a BA and an emphasis in history studies. While at UNH, he found his life’s sweetheart, Marilyn Ann Porter of Houlton, and they were married shortly after his graduation. Subsequently, a growing interest in art took him to a career in architecture. He graduated from Boston Architectural College in 1970.
Bob was very generous with his professional skills, ready to help friends, neighbors and family consult over DIY projects. He was a civil service architect for the U.S. Navy for many years. He loved and enjoyed his family. He and Marilyn raised three daughters and a son. The girls became professional ballerinas; their son became a plastics design engineer.
Bob loved history and he developed a flair for painting, but his greatest love was sailing on East Grand Lake, Maine, and along the Massachusetts coast.
Bob was predeceased by his beloved wife, Marilyn. He is survived by his sister Lynn (Parsons) Thompson (husband, Dr. Brad) of Salisbury Cove, Maine, and Galveston, Texas, and brother-in-law, James B. Porter, of Rockland, his children, Steven R. Parsons (partner Mary Beth Foley) of Orient, Maine, Susan L. Waite-York (husband, Dick) of Houlton, Nancy A. Bilodeau (husband, Tom) of Deerfield, N.H., and Sarah B. Tompkins (husband, David) of Dover, N.H. Six grandchildren, Rebecca Waite of Wellington, Fla., and Zachary Waite of Houlton, Laura (Hoffman) Brown (husband, Eben) of Berlin, Germany, and Jeff Hoffman of Portland, Maine, and Alex and Aidan Tompkins of Dover, N.H., were his pride and joy. Also surviving Bob are niece Elizabeth L. Thompson and great-niece Norah J.T. Thompson-Shapiro (of Peekskill, N.Y.) and nephew the Rev. Edward E. Thompson (wife, Mary K.) and great-nephew William T.B. Thompson of Swarthmore, Pa. Bob left many friends at Langdon Place in Exeter, N.H., in particular an especially dear friend, Lois Tierney.
A celebration of life will be held in the summer of 2022. Details will be announced in the future. Donations in Bob’s memory may be made to www.courgeoussailing.org.