John H. Parker Jr.
May 27, 1944 - March 6, 2025
Forever in our hearts
On March 6, 2025, John H. Parker, Jr. “Jack”, 80, of Waltham MA, passed away peacefully at home after complications from cancer. John was born in Lowell Massachusetts, the son of John H. Parker Sr. “Harry” and Gladys M. Ewins “Mary.” As a young boy John attended St. Peter’s Elementary School then later graduated from Keith Academy High School in 1962. After graduation, John enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served his country, including a tour in Vietnam, until being honorably discharged in 1965. Following John’s service in the military, he furthered his education and earned a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. Building on his passion for finance, John later received a master’s degree from Babson College and a graduate diploma from The Graduate School of Retail Management. In 1981, John’s thesis “A Cost Analysis Study for Credit Card Merchant Pricing” was chosen with distinction for the permanent library of the Consumer Bankers Association.
Throughout John’s life he showed many faces. For over forty years he enjoyed a successful career as a business executive for various organizations including New England Bankcard Association, Bank of Boston, Fidelity Investments, Fleet Bank, and Pegasystems. Aside from his career and love for numbers, John’s interests included collecting, sports, cooking, music, and spending birthdays and holidays with family. He was a dedicated collector of rare books, including early pressings of several works by Charles Dickens. He had a strong passion for sports, especially football, having played in college. He was a fervent supporter of New England and Boston College sports teams although he would often have to stop watching games early due to emotions running high. John also loved to cook, treating his family to great meals over the holidays and fabulous barbeques during the summer months. He was a lover of music, having been a drummer and singer in a rock band during his teenage years. John loved birthdays and holidays, especially Christmas. He never wanted Christmas to end.
John is survived by his wife Gendi Li and her son Zhongyi of Waltham MA, daughter Debbi Pomfred and her husband David of Holliston MA, son John H. Parker III of Watertown MA, grandsons Tyler and Ryan Pomfred of Holliston MA, brother Ron Parker of Sequim WA, sister Jill Parker of Lowell MA, brother Stephen Parker of Lowell MA, brother Michael Parker and his wife Meredith of Charlestown MA, nieces Gemma Parker of Charlestown MA, Bonnie Parker of Port Hadlock WA, Cordelia Parker of Stow OH, and Karina Chandler of Baltimore MD, former wife Rosalyn Parker of Holliston Ma, and former wife Donna Parker of Watertown MA.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 13, from 5-7pm at Andrew J Magni and Son Funeral Home, 365 Watertown St, Newton, MA 02458 . A burial service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in memory of John H. Parker Jr. to support cancer research and patient care at: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or via dana-farber.org/gift.