Obituary of Paul C. Parker

Paul C. Parker VESTAL--There are good ships, there are wood ships, there are ships that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships, so may they always be. - Irish Proverb Paul C. Parker was born at The Hospital in Sidney, New York on December 30, 1953. He passed away at the age of 67 on July 4, 2021, following a brief and unexpected illness. Whether you knew him as Paul, PPJR, Cash, Crotch, Rocky, or Mike, he was a legend and a man full of love. Paul grew up in the family home on Union Street in Sidney, NY, the son of Paul A. Parker and Ina (Choate) Parker. He would often talk about growing up next door to the factory, watching as the shifts changed. He was proud of being raised in a small town, knowing just about everyone. With friends that played together, and fought together, he would always stick up for a friend and never let a friend down when things got rough. Paul graduated with the Class of 1972. Paul spoke fondly of his times traveling to visit the grave sites of family and friends with his father on Memorial Day. They always ended the day with a trip to the Legion / Elks to share a beer and reminisce over days gone by. Following his graduation from Sidney High School, Paul attended college at SUNY Cobleskill and SUNY Oneonta. He graduated in 1976. In his early life, he held storied and multifaceted jobs. He ran the C&P Coin Shop in Sidney, an ice cream truck for K&D Vending, he was an accountant at SUNY Oneonta and served as the Director of Financial Aid at SUNY Cobleskill. He left Cobleskill on October 20, 1984, and began his life on the campus of Binghamton University, residing in Vestal, New York. He worked for 37 years for the Research Foundation of the State University of New York at Binghamton University. His work at the Research Foundation and at Binghamton University was an important part of his life. He cared for his colleagues and their families as if they were his own. He never viewed his role at the Research Foundation and Binghamton University as a “job”. He viewed it as his life’s work, surrounded by friends. While at Binghamton University, he was able to enjoy the company of his two nieces, Lisa and Carrie, who were students on campus in the 1990’s. He would often invite them to his office and take them out for a meal to make sure that all was right with them. Shortly before he passed, he was able to share in the joy that his great-niece Abi was soon to be a Binghamton student. He was proud of the Binghamton campus and all of the research that was able to be conducted. He was offered retirement from the Research Foundation in June 2020 and officially retired on January 29, 2021. On his retirement, Paul served as the Associate Vice President for Research Administration, Research Foundation Operations Manager and Division for Research Chief Financial Officer. Paul also served as a member of the Southern Tier High Technology Incubator, a member of the Board of Directors for Good Shepherd Communities and on the Board of Supervisors for Visions Credit Union. He was also a lifetime member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks. Paul had several interests that kept him busy outside of work. The first was to travel around the United States. He enjoyed taking cruises and trips to places like New Orleans and Disney World. On his return, he would regale his family and friends of the stories from his adventures. His second interest was to share in the company of his friends and family. On any given night, Paul could be found at the bar at Cortese’s Restaurant in Binghamton. He would be entertaining his many friends and the patrons with stories and jokes from his well-lived life. Whether it was celebrating a birthday or other special occasion, his parties would be filled to capacity with friends, family and loved ones, all sharing a laugh and stories from years before. His best lived life would be found enjoying a bottle of fine wine, cigar in hand and a circle of friends and family enjoying his company. He would lead every toast with a proverb or limerick, often humorous, but always heartfelt. The most important aspect of Paul’s life was his family. Paul was renowned for his devotion to his sisters and extended family. It was in their company that Paul was happiest. Paul is survived by his sisters, Paula & Chris Smith, and Anne & Skip Leibundgut. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews: Carrie & Elmer Narrow, Lisa & Steve Natoli, Chad & Grace Smith, Shannan Smith, Stacy Smith, J.R. Ostrander, Tara & Brian Morley, Chelsea & Jake Russelle, and Gabe Leibundgut & Nikki Beadle. Paul is also survived by his great nieces and nephews: Abigail, Isabella & Theodore Natoli, Stella Smith, Tyler & Courtney Smith, Kirsten & Collin Hotaling, Dylan & Jaden Smith, Jonathan & Britny Ostrander, Logan Morley, Emma & Lucas Narrow, Samme Newcomer and Blair Leibundgut. He is also survived by his Aunt Helen Hawver and his cousins: Jeannie Warner, Peter Parker, Jean Keefe, Sheldon Kinney, Linda Parker, Kay Breed and Paul Hawver. He was predeceased by his parents, Paul and Ina Parker, his sister, Penny Ostrander, and his nephew and godson Jesse Scott. In lieu of flowers, Paul has asked that donations be made in his memory to the scholarship he maintained for his nephew and godson, Jesse Scott, as follows: Norwich Dollars for Scholars, P.O. Box 1015, Norwich, New York 13815, with the subject of “Jesse Scott Memorial Scholarship in Memory of Paul Parker.” Friends may call from 5 to 7 pm on Thursday, July 8, 2021 at C.H. Landers Funeral Home, 21 Main Street, Sidney, New York. Funeral services will be at 11 am on Friday, July 9, 2021 at C.H. Landers Funeral Home, 21 Main Street, Sidney, New York. The family will host a Celebration of Life for extended family and friends at Cortese Restaurant in Binghamton, New York, on a date in the immediate future. Share condolences and memories with the family online at www.landersfh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, Sidney.