George A. Parkins, III

Very sorry to hear of George’s passing. I played Duplicate bridge against him many times. He was an outstanding player and a fierce competitor who always demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship. He will be sorely missed by all in the Northern VA Duplicate Bridge Community. My deepest sympathy to his wife Kathy and all his family and friends. Craig Pritzker Lake Ridge, VA

My earliest memory of “My Favorite Uncle” Lanny: He asked me if I wanted to go for a ride in the Morgan. I hopped in, the door seemed small, like me. I realized the seat belt would not hold me tight while touring through the twisting roads of the canyon, faster then I thought possible; I slid side-to-side in the seat. After seeing my reaction, he smiled wide and accelerated! Next stop the school parking lot for the slalom course and the grand finale…..high speed doughnuts and figure 8’s…..in reverse!!! I survived…smiling widely. You took me out of my comfort zone…thank you Lanny. Dave Reynolds

Oh, Dear Lanny, my smart, smart older brother! I’ve seen you so rarely since you and Kathy & the boys left Simi Valley, California, and moved to the land of ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’. Of course, I have my childhood memories. Saturdays after our chores were done, maybe playing in a vacant lot full of tumble weeds where we could hide or throw dirt clods, Maybe a holiday weekend spent with the Bushnell cousins riding their donkeys that had been rescued from the southern California desert, or perhaps playing hide-&-go-seek in the Orange Orchards. Looking from the outside at his Boy Scout adventures, especially his assistant scout master, Charlie, who had partially paralyzed legs, but still could drive a modified coup. One time our family had told him about an anticipated family camping trip & we’d only driven a full day into the Sierras, put up our tent & maybe slept a night, when up arrived Charlie at our Rock Creek campsite. As we grew into teenagers, Lanny was very conscious that I meet his standards. Yes, more than once he reminded me to ‘suck in my gut’! I was sufficient to substitute for him folding & delivering on his afternoon paper route. I certainly never mastered riding my bike at the same time as he did. Oh those bags were heavy, though I don’t know that they were any heavier than the ones David carried on Beach drive. Lanny never did homework that I recall, just get thru high school on the tests which of course he could pass with flying colors (aggravating his teachers as well as his mother.) Then came the day Lanny disappeared – when he and Rick DeYoung signed up for the Air Force. Lanny & Dad had had some differences of opinion (over what I have no memory), and I wasn’t privy to their plans ahead of time (probably thought I might tell the folks). I don’t actually remember his HS graduation. He may have had at least part of a year at Glendale College, but that event meant that he was gone. When he next came home – from book camp – he was a different person. The rest of his life was not mine, (You’ll have to ask Nancy DeYoung or of course Kathy about the rest of his life. Our families have never lived in the same part of the country, although we’ve had a few memorable visits with each other’s families. My most enjoyable recent memory was maybe 20-30 years ago when Lanny stayed with us when he came to Seattle for a bridge tournament. We got him a bus pass & put him on a bus every morning. On Friday evening I met him & after work & his bridge games to go to Seattle’s “Figgy Pudding” event when choirs from companies or any group really, gather on street corners & compete for various prizes for their singing. Some humorous, others really beautiful. He was amazed & thoroughly enjoyed himself. I truly nice memory to hold – Along with his phone calls telling me of the lives of his boys & grandchildren. Good bye from your Sis, Adele

I met George in around 2017 when I started playing regularly the duplicate bridge games at the Knights of Columbus Hall and the Beth El Hebrew Congregation, at the latter of which Kathy and he always seemed to be helping out. I, a clumsy duplicate novice from years of social bridge, very much appreciated George’s etiquette tips, as well as his invariably welcoming smile, his perceptive and precise use of words, his curiosity, his wit, his positive attitude toward all of us, and also his sharp bridge play. I cannot recall when I last saw or virtually “saw” George in person or online, but I have missed his assuring, affirming presence, and shall continue to miss him. I thank you, Geoff, for that vintage, 80-year old George in the Nascar blue jacket – a lovely way to remember him. RIP, George. David Goldfrank