William Carey Parker
October 3, 1934 ~ December 4, 2022
The brilliant and beloved William “Carey" Parker passed away peacefully on December 4th, 2022 at the age of 88. He will be missed terribly by his family - his daughters Catherine and Annie, son-in-law Chuck, and grandsons Luc, Liam, Leo, Charlie and Henry. He will also be sorely missed by his brother Reeve, sister-in-law Mary and an assortment of wonderful cousins, nieces and nephews and their children on both sides of the family.
Carey was born on October 3, 1934 in Philadelphia, PA to Alan and Janet Parker. He had fun sharing that birthday with his brother Reeve and grandson Liam. He attended The Haverford School in Haverford, PA and spent many summers at Camp Allagash in Maine, canoeing down the Allagash River. After Haverford, he went to Princeton University, where he enjoyed playing lightweight football. After graduating from Princeton, he studied at Trinity College at the University of Oxford on the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship.
During the summer between years at Oxford, he and a friend drove a red, double-decker London bus across Europe to Moscow. He would chuckle as he told stories about funny pranks and close calls with low bridges and other adventures they had along the way. One of his favorite gifts to his children and grandchildren was a model London bus and he always kept a photo from that special trip on his dresser.
Upon completing the Rhodes Scholarship, Carey earned a doctorate in chemical engineering at The Rockefeller Institute (which later became The Rockefeller University) in New York City. However, he soon decided science was not the career path for him and headed to Harvard Law School. It was around this time that his father wisecracked to a friend: “I can’t get my son out of college!” Carey found this amusing, although perhaps took it to heart because Harvard was the last stop in his formal education. Upon graduation, he clerked for Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, an honor that was very special to him. He then worked as a Special Assistant in the Justice Department and during that time, Carey got to know a couple of staff members in Senator Ted Kennedy’s office on Capitol Hill. Before long, he had accepted a position as a Legislative Assistant on Kennedy’s staff. He never looked back.
Carey served passionately and loyally on Senator Kennedy's staff from early 1969 until early 2010 - over the administration of eight presidents from Nixon through Obama. Carey rose through the ranks to Senior Legislative Director on Kennedy’s staff - advising the Senator, running staff strategy meetings, prioritizing and shaping the Senator's position on the issues, drafting speeches and interview material, and interacting with other Senators and Senate staff. Colleagues would say that he not only truly understood where the Senator stood on the issues, but understood and respected how other Senators thought and negotiated as well - on both sides of the aisle. As a result, he was instrumental in passing some of the most important federal legislation of the last 50 years, including the 26th Amendment to the Constitution, which was quickly ratified and lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 years (1971); the Voting Rights Act Amendments (1970); the Emergency Healthcare Personnel Act (1970), the Job Training Partnership Act (1982); the Military Family Act (1985); the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act (1986); the Civil Rights Restoration Act (1987); the Surface Transportation Act (1987); the Hunger Prevention Act (1988); the Fair Housing Amendments Act (1988); the Americans With Disabilities Act (1990); the Civil Rights Act Amendment (1991); the Family and Medical Leave Act (1993); the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) (1996); the Balanced Budget Act that created the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) (1997); the Mental Health Parity Act (2008); and the Affordable Health Care Act (2010).
Carey traveled and served as a chief advisor and speechwriter with Kennedy during his 1980 presidential campaign and every Democratic National Convention. In 1994, he played a key role in the successful nomination of Justice Stephen Breyer to the U.S. Supreme Court. In January 2008, he enthusiastically supported and helped orchestrate Kennedy’s early endorsement of Senator Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, which was widely seen as building momentum that contributed to Obama winning the Democratic nomination. In addition, Carey was critical to Kennedy’s work negotiating toward peace in Northern Ireland.
After Kennedy passed away in 2009, Carey stayed on with Paul Kirk who served out the remainder of Kennedy’s term. The family likes to say that Carey “was the last one to turn out the lights and close the door in the Senator’s office.”
On Capitol Hill, Carey was often referred to with affection as “the 101st Senator”. He was deeply respected by senators, representatives and their staff across the Hill and on both sides of the aisle for his intelligence, work ethic, personal integrity, and good humor. He was loved by his fellow Kennedy staffers as a trusted mentor and friend. He was the ultimate teacher, showing scores of Kennedy staffers how the legislative process worked. He was renowned for his writing and editing prowess - he routinely took drafts that were already very good and marked them up practically beyond recognition to create unquestionably better versions. However, he shook off accolades and never sought the spotlight for himself. Instead, he told others he was “just in the peanut gallery”. He was deeply humble, modest, patient, and kind. He was a true public servant who believed the government can be a force for good and that by working together, the nation and world would become a better place.
Carey was also a devoted family man. He met his beloved wife of 57 years, Betsy Libby Parker, on a train platform in Philadelphia in 1962 when Betsy was returning home to Connecticut and Carey was on his way to New York City. They sat together during that train ride and talked the whole way - a story they loved to share. They were married two years later on June 20, 1964 in the backyard of Betsy’s home in Norwich, CT. For 50 years, Betsy and Carey enjoyed living in the historic Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., so close to the U.S. Capitol where Carey worked, in their charming brick townhouse on 29th Street with beautiful Yoshino cherry trees in the garden. They spent time every summer with their extended family on Squirrel Island in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, where Carey was known for leading boating adventures, orchestrating silly games with the children and grandchildren, and maintaining the beautiful woods around their family home. He could be found on the porch each night soaking in the sunset from start to finish and rating it from 1 to 10. Every winter, they took ski trips with the family for as long as they were able.
In 2014, Betsy and Carey moved to Vienna, VA to be closer to Annie’s family. They also took many trips over the years to Seattle and the Methow Valley in Washington state to visit with Catherine’s family. Most recently, they resided at The Kensington, an assisted living community in Falls Church, VA, that enabled them to live together comfortably after Betsy’s Parkinson’s diagnosis. In January 2022, Betsy sadly passed away at age 83 and Carey was heartbroken but carried on with strength and grace.
Affectionately nicknamed “BPa” (pronounced Bee-Pa), Betsy and Carey were truly an integrated unit who delighted in their children, grandchildren, extended family and their special times together. Their relationship and marriage was a safe harbor and loving, rock-solid foundation for the entire family. It will never be the same without BPa; however their magic and legacies will live on.
See more on Carey’s career on Capitol Hill in this Washington Post article published December 9, 2022: https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2022/12/08/carey-parker-ted-kennedy-aide-dead/
In lieu of flowers the family plans to establish a memorial fund in support of public service in Betsy and Carey's honor. Details will be coming soon.
The family is planning to hold a memorial service for Carey in February and details will be announced soon.
####
Carey was born on October 3, 1934 in Philadelphia, PA to Alan and Janet Parker. He had fun sharing that birthday with his brother Reeve and grandson Liam. He attended The Haverford School in Haverford, PA and spent many summers at Camp Allagash in Maine, canoeing down the Allagash River. After Haverford, he went to Princeton University, where he enjoyed playing lightweight football. After graduating from Princeton, he studied at Trinity College at the University of Oxford on the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship.
During the summer between years at Oxford, he and a friend drove a red, double-decker London bus across Europe to Moscow. He would chuckle as he told stories about funny pranks and close calls with low bridges and other adventures they had along the way. One of his favorite gifts to his children and grandchildren was a model London bus and he always kept a photo from that special trip on his dresser.
Upon completing the Rhodes Scholarship, Carey earned a doctorate in chemical engineering at The Rockefeller Institute (which later became The Rockefeller University) in New York City. However, he soon decided science was not the career path for him and headed to Harvard Law School. It was around this time that his father wisecracked to a friend: “I can’t get my son out of college!” Carey found this amusing, although perhaps took it to heart because Harvard was the last stop in his formal education. Upon graduation, he clerked for Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, an honor that was very special to him. He then worked as a Special Assistant in the Justice Department and during that time, Carey got to know a couple of staff members in Senator Ted Kennedy’s office on Capitol Hill. Before long, he had accepted a position as a Legislative Assistant on Kennedy’s staff. He never looked back.
Carey served passionately and loyally on Senator Kennedy's staff from early 1969 until early 2010 - over the administration of eight presidents from Nixon through Obama. Carey rose through the ranks to Senior Legislative Director on Kennedy’s staff - advising the Senator, running staff strategy meetings, prioritizing and shaping the Senator's position on the issues, drafting speeches and interview material, and interacting with other Senators and Senate staff. Colleagues would say that he not only truly understood where the Senator stood on the issues, but understood and respected how other Senators thought and negotiated as well - on both sides of the aisle. As a result, he was instrumental in passing some of the most important federal legislation of the last 50 years, including the 26th Amendment to the Constitution, which was quickly ratified and lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 years (1971); the Voting Rights Act Amendments (1970); the Emergency Healthcare Personnel Act (1970), the Job Training Partnership Act (1982); the Military Family Act (1985); the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act (1986); the Civil Rights Restoration Act (1987); the Surface Transportation Act (1987); the Hunger Prevention Act (1988); the Fair Housing Amendments Act (1988); the Americans With Disabilities Act (1990); the Civil Rights Act Amendment (1991); the Family and Medical Leave Act (1993); the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) (1996); the Balanced Budget Act that created the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) (1997); the Mental Health Parity Act (2008); and the Affordable Health Care Act (2010).
Carey traveled and served as a chief advisor and speechwriter with Kennedy during his 1980 presidential campaign and every Democratic National Convention. In 1994, he played a key role in the successful nomination of Justice Stephen Breyer to the U.S. Supreme Court. In January 2008, he enthusiastically supported and helped orchestrate Kennedy’s early endorsement of Senator Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, which was widely seen as building momentum that contributed to Obama winning the Democratic nomination. In addition, Carey was critical to Kennedy’s work negotiating toward peace in Northern Ireland.
After Kennedy passed away in 2009, Carey stayed on with Paul Kirk who served out the remainder of Kennedy’s term. The family likes to say that Carey “was the last one to turn out the lights and close the door in the Senator’s office.”
On Capitol Hill, Carey was often referred to with affection as “the 101st Senator”. He was deeply respected by senators, representatives and their staff across the Hill and on both sides of the aisle for his intelligence, work ethic, personal integrity, and good humor. He was loved by his fellow Kennedy staffers as a trusted mentor and friend. He was the ultimate teacher, showing scores of Kennedy staffers how the legislative process worked. He was renowned for his writing and editing prowess - he routinely took drafts that were already very good and marked them up practically beyond recognition to create unquestionably better versions. However, he shook off accolades and never sought the spotlight for himself. Instead, he told others he was “just in the peanut gallery”. He was deeply humble, modest, patient, and kind. He was a true public servant who believed the government can be a force for good and that by working together, the nation and world would become a better place.
Carey was also a devoted family man. He met his beloved wife of 57 years, Betsy Libby Parker, on a train platform in Philadelphia in 1962 when Betsy was returning home to Connecticut and Carey was on his way to New York City. They sat together during that train ride and talked the whole way - a story they loved to share. They were married two years later on June 20, 1964 in the backyard of Betsy’s home in Norwich, CT. For 50 years, Betsy and Carey enjoyed living in the historic Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., so close to the U.S. Capitol where Carey worked, in their charming brick townhouse on 29th Street with beautiful Yoshino cherry trees in the garden. They spent time every summer with their extended family on Squirrel Island in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, where Carey was known for leading boating adventures, orchestrating silly games with the children and grandchildren, and maintaining the beautiful woods around their family home. He could be found on the porch each night soaking in the sunset from start to finish and rating it from 1 to 10. Every winter, they took ski trips with the family for as long as they were able.
In 2014, Betsy and Carey moved to Vienna, VA to be closer to Annie’s family. They also took many trips over the years to Seattle and the Methow Valley in Washington state to visit with Catherine’s family. Most recently, they resided at The Kensington, an assisted living community in Falls Church, VA, that enabled them to live together comfortably after Betsy’s Parkinson’s diagnosis. In January 2022, Betsy sadly passed away at age 83 and Carey was heartbroken but carried on with strength and grace.
Affectionately nicknamed “BPa” (pronounced Bee-Pa), Betsy and Carey were truly an integrated unit who delighted in their children, grandchildren, extended family and their special times together. Their relationship and marriage was a safe harbor and loving, rock-solid foundation for the entire family. It will never be the same without BPa; however their magic and legacies will live on.
See more on Carey’s career on Capitol Hill in this Washington Post article published December 9, 2022: https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2022/12/08/carey-parker-ted-kennedy-aide-dead/
In lieu of flowers the family plans to establish a memorial fund in support of public service in Betsy and Carey's honor. Details will be coming soon.
The family is planning to hold a memorial service for Carey in February and details will be announced soon.
####
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle