Thursday, December 13, 2007
A more vibrant man, caring neighbor, and facillitator of fun times could not have been found during my growing up days on Lincoln Street in New Britain. The house on the hill, across the street and to the right of ours, was a place you always wanted to go to visit, because the people inside could not have been more giving or gregarious. Who will ever forget Ged's pick-up soccer games on the fairway behind his house on Sunday afternoon during the fall, long before the NFL games dominated Sunday afternoon sports? Young and old, cavorting on a tilting field, trying to put that brown leather ball between two sticks jammed into Willie Whalen's prized fairway. But that was only part of it; the hot cocoa and comraderie Ged and his family offered all the participants back at their home at the end of day were outstanding. Sallie, Edie, and Marfie; I haven't seen any of you since we left New Britain in 1965, but reading about your father's passing has just unleashed a torrent of wonderful memories of time spent together in both New Britain and Fenwick, where you were kind enough to offer a weekend refuge to my sister, brother and me, summer after summer after summer. I am a better person because Ged Parsons was such a positive role model for me during my growing up years. We all share in your sadness at your dad's departure from this earthly life, but I rejoice in the legacy of the lovely times he provided all of us. That legacy will live forever. With love, Steve Johnson
