Obituary of Samuel Thaxter Parks
Samuel Thaxter (Sam) Parks of Scarborough, ME died unexpectedly on Saturday, November
17, 2012 in Portland, Maine. He was born on June 1, 1922, the son of Ward Jackson Parks and
Marion Whitley Parks, and grew up with his two sisters, Nancy and Joan, in Sherborn, MA on
their family farm, “Century Farm”. He attended Sawin Academy in Sherborn through his junior
year of high school and graduated from Newton High School in 1941.
Sam was in the Merchant Marines during World War II in both the Atlantic and Pacific
campaigns and served on a Liberty Ship that convoyed to Normandy two weeks after the D-Day
invasion to unload supplies for the invading troops. He was a member of the National Maritime
Historical Society and an avid reader of maritime history.
In 1946, he returned to Sherborn and with a partner started a machine shop, Century
Manufacturing. He soon branched out on his own, owning and operating Pegasus Co. in
Holliston, MA until retirement in 1987. He handled varied jobs for both large and small
customers in the greater Boston area and took great pleasure in finding practical solutions to
difficult projects.
He married Nancy Webber Gould of Worcester, MA in 1954. They lived in Holliston and then
Sherborn, MA with their two children Roswell and Elisa. The family summered on Marthaʼs
Vineyard at the family cottage in Oak Bluffs until 1972 after which they resided in a cottage he
built at Hines Point on the Lagoon in Vineyard Haven.
His joy of sailing carried throughout his life. For many years he sailed with his family in
Vineyard and Nantucket Sound and along the East Coast in his 26ʼ sloop “Pegasus” and later
sailed in Vineyard Haven Harbor in his 16ʼ gaff-rigged sloop “Skrap” built at the Marthaʼs
Vineyard Shipyard in the early 80ʻs. He especially enjoyed participating in races as a member
of the Holmes Hole Sailing Association.
His wife Nancy died in 1990 and in 1992 he married Portland, Maine native Margery Bayer and
moved to Scarborough, ME where they enjoyed twenty years in retirement, traveling extensively
around the United States and Canada, including trips to Alaska and Newfoundland. He spent
his free time on both metal and woodworking projects in his large home workshop. and
particularly enjoyed his volunteer work with the South Portland High School U.S. First Robotic
Team, often commenting on what great training it was for young people in learning skills and
gaining an understanding of the trial and error world of engineering that he encountered in his
own career.
Sam is predeceased by his parents, his first wife Nancy, and his two sisters: Nancy Parks
Freeman and Joan Parks Mott. He is survived by his wife Margery Bayer Parks of
Scarborough, ME, his son Roswell Jackson Parks and wife Gail of Seneca Falls, NY, his
daughter Elisa Parks Natichioni of Vineyard Haven, MA, and four grandchildren Kyle, Ryan,
Marina and Marc Natichioni.
Sam was a strong presence in the lives of all who knew and loved him. Always a true
gentlemen, he enjoyed being with his loving family (a dog always included), nourishing longtime
relationships, and cultivating new friendships as he traveled through life. He was a highly
respected member of the three communities in which he lived: Holliston/Sherborn, Marthaʼs
Vineyard, MA, and Scarborough, ME.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 24, at 2:00PM in the chapel at the First
Congregational Church, 301 Cottage Road, So, Portland, ME. Donations in Samʼs memory
may be made to South Portland Robotics, c/o South Portland High School, 637 Highland
Avenue, So. Portland, ME 04106.
A Memorial Tree was planted for Samuel
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Direct Cremation of Maine
Contact Us:
182 Waldo Avenue
Belfast, ME 04915
207-338-1433
Quick Links:
Resources:
News & Events:
© Direct Cremation of Maine | Belfast, ME