Glenn Thomas Parks

August 7, 1949 - June 10, 2021

Glenn Parks was a Renaissance man. Born in 1949, he grew up in the Bronx, NY playing basketball, guitar and reading extensively when not in school. After graduating from Richmond College in NYC and moving to California he became a locksmith, for a time, installing all the locks in the newly built Hyatt Regency Hotel in San Francisco. There wasn’t much he could not fix nor instrument he could not play. He worked on fishing boats in Alaska, as a counselor in a residential treatment center for youth in Northern California and lived for a while in Denver Colorado. Returning to the Bay Area Glenn went on to work as a stationary engineer for the Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, the San Francisco Unified School District and Cal State East Bay until his retirement this year. Among his myriad of skills and talents, Glenn was a musician, DJ, philosopher, mechanic, and scholar. He was an avid reader and well versed on almost any subject. Glenn was a loving father and loyal friend. He leaves behind daughter Willow Sirena Parks of Tacoma, WA and ex-wife and friend Jane Newhard Parks of Lake Tahoe as well as nieces Cheranda Parks-Taylor and Myshanda Parks. He is predeceased by his mother Zetora (Toby) Parks and sister Gail Parks. Glenn was happy to know his daughter is engaged to Roman Deyoe. Friends and family alike mourn the loss of this unique and special man. Glenn was a bright light who will be missed by all, his presence never forgotten.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Glenn’s memory can be made to the Sierra Club or Greenpeace. A celebration of Glenn’s life will be held at a later date.