On Wednesday February 25th Hanshi Walter Parks passed away after battling illnesses for a long period of time. Unfortunately for myself, his friends,
and the Goju world he lost his battle on March 28th. A youth tournament is being held here in Plymouth where he was to be presiding over,
instead he will be honored and put to rest. Those in the New England area are invited to attend and give a hearty OSS! and say goodbye.
His funeral service will be held in Brookline Mass. Further details will be given by Monday 2nd day of March. Those who will attend should be dressed
in formal GEE attire as this is how he would have wanted it. Any questions you may contact me via E-Mail.

Hanshi Parks' funeral will be a very small event. He has been cremated. Due to the extreme current weather, Kyoshi Gascoyne thought it wise that we not travel at this time.
He is having a dedication for Hanshi Parks at the above tournament in Plymouth on March 28th, further details to be posted on this website.

REMEMBER…..ME

My name is Garry and I am (and will always remain), a student and a friend to Hanshi Walter Parks.
I was asked to write a eulogy for him because we spent years together as student, teacher, and as friends.
I looked the word "eulogy" up to see just what it meant so I could get this right, and what it said was "Words of Praise."
I don't have enough time to do that phrase justice, when speaking of Walter. He was a man committed to his blood family.
He spoke of his Mom lovingly every time we got together. His sister, who he always did his best to watch over although sometimes
she drove him crazy like siblings do, but none the less, loved her as a good brother would. A son, that he wished he could have spent
more time with but always kept him in his heart. A niece, who sometimes taxed his patience but always knew she would turn out to
be a fine young lady and would be a person to be proud of.

His martial Arts family is so vast I can not single out any one individual, he had love and respect for so many of his peers.
Walter Parks had all these fond feelings in his heart that he carried with him every day. If I am to speak of Walter with high praise I must sum it up like this: his Karate name was the PRO given to him by his final teacher, Peter Urban and his character was every bit of that name. He was symmetry in motion when it came to his craft, to have watched him compete was a thing of  beauty. I, like every one else who knew him, will always remember him with love and fondness for the man that he was, the friend that he will always be, and the inspiration that we all will aspire to. Here on Earth we have suffered a loss, but in Heaven he has been welcomed
with open arms. We will miss you Sensei Walter Parks.
Garry Gascoyne, Kyoshi of the MASSACHUSETTS IRON BRIGADE  March 2, 2009

 

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