DONALD PARKER
1944 - 2012
Donald Martin Parker, former offensive lineman for the San Francisco 49er's, football star for Punahou School and University of Virginia, an expert in redevelopment, responsible for the Mission Bay Area project in San Francisco that resulted in six thousand housing units and five million square feet of commercial space, died July 18th at his home on the slopes of Diamond Head.
Born and raised in Manoa Valley, Parker led the Punahou School football team to their only undefeated season to date in his graduation year of 1962. At the University of Virginia he was captain of the team, playing in both the East West Shriner's game and the Hula Bowl.
He met his wife, Sally Parker, in 1966 while working a summer job as doorman at Duke Kahanamoku's in the International Marketplace in Waikiki. They married in 1985, traveled when ever and where ever they could and took the task of raising children and grand children both seriously with great humor.
Following his own philosophy of making places better, Parker used his degree in city planning from University of Virginia and his MBA and Masters in Architecture degrees from University of Oregon to excel in the field of real-estate development. He worked with Kaiser-Aetna, Amfac Development Corporation where he was partner in charge of the Marina Village in Alameda, California, that included 1.3 million square feet of office space, a neighborhood shopping center, two hotels and 1,000 marina berths. As executive director of the Alameda Reuse and Redevelopment Authority, he redeveloped the 3,000 acre decommissioned U.S. Naval Air Base in Alameda. From 1995 to 2,000 he was vice president for Bay Area Development, responsible for all development in the Bay area.
An elder at the First Presbyterian Church at Koolau, Parker was instrumental in moving the church campus from Makiki to the new location at the Ko'olau Golf Course. Parker was a leader in the support of the Shalom Christian Birthing Home in the Philippines, allowing trained nurses to care for impoverished women from remote villages, often providing the only medical care received by young mothers, dramatically decreasing the rate of infant mortality.
Parker was an avid golfer, recently making his first hole in one. He was a Rotarian, chairman of the building and grounds committee of the Outrigger Canoe Club, a member of both the Urban Land Institute and Lamba Alpha Land Society.
He is survived by his wife, Sally, and seven children and step children; Taber Reiner, Trent Parker, Natalie Parker, Aime Klemmer, Beth Wallace, Meghan Buck and Leslie Goldman, his sister, Judy Cochran, six grand children, two nephews and a niece.
A celebration of life will take place Wednesday, July 25th at 4 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church Honolulu at Koolau, 45-550 Kionaole, Kaneohe, 96744. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the First Presbyterian Church to be transferred to fund the Shalom Christian Birthing Home in the Philippines.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
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