Passing of Steve Parks

[Richard Singleton]

I am very saddened to see a report on the tenor guitar registry of yahoo groups that Steve Parks passed away yesterday after a long battle with cancer.

[Charles E.]

Richard, thanks for posting this on the Cafe. Steve was a great friend and I will miss him dearly. I was lucky enough to be able to play with him last September at Rockbridge and kept up with his situation on his blog ( done beautifully by his wife Sandy ) up to his passing the other day. The mandolin and tenor guitar community has truly lost a wonderful person and musician.

[big smiley guy]

I'm sorry to hear that. I had heard that he was seriously ill. Even though I live close to Dayton I never had a chance to meet him.

[sunburst]

I met Steve in Seattle at the GAL convention, only to find out that he lived just over the mountain from me here in Virginia. He was a good instrument builder as well as a good musician and all around nice guy to hang out with. He'll be missed.

[Charles E.]

For those interested, here is a link to a blog on Steve beautifully done by Steves wife Sandy.

http://web.me.com/sparks62/steve/blog/blog.html

[Richard Singleton]

Charles, Thanks so much for posting the link to Sandy's blog. My wife is fighting stage IV breast cancer and the grace and strength that Sandy radiated in being there for Steve and their family and friends are an inspiration to me. I wish I had known Steve other than from his posts on Tenor Guitar registry, he was a remarkable person and my prayers go out to him, Sandy and his children, and all who are feeling his loss.