Richard Parish

Richard Carlton Parish passed away on March 11, 2021 in Longmont, CO at the age of 72. He died peacefully with family by his side. Richard was a devoted husband, son, father, and grandfather, who showed his adoration for his family with everyday acts of love. Richard was born on a cold, snowy November 13, 1948 in Lafayette, IN to Yvonne and Clyde Parish. As a child, Richard moved from Indiana to Texas, where he lived for many years. He graduated from Westbury High School in Houston, TX in 1966. Richard received a bachelor's degree in anthropology from the University of Texas in 1970. He then went on to earn a master's degree in engineering in 1980. He married his lifelong love, Margaret Keeland, in 1976 at the Forest Club in Houston, TX. Richard first met Margaret at the art museum where she worked, and he followed her around all night until she agreed to go out with him. Richard and Margaret spent their early years together living in a farm house in Austin. After Richard finished graduate school, they moved to the Clear Lake, TX area. They raised two daughters together, Lauren and Julia. Richard worked as an engineer for NASA from 1980 to 1992. After leaving his job at NASA, Richard moved to Superior, CO to take a job at the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL). He was passionate about using his engineering skills to help the environment, and retired from his job at Calstart, a clean transportation company, in 2013. Richard loved tending to his orchids, riding his bike along the back roads of Boulder County, sailing his boat on Boulder Reservoir, and spending time in nature with his beloved grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Parish, his daughters Lauren Trevathan and Julia (Josh) Campbell, his grandchildren Caleb Trevathan, Jacob Trevathan, Marlowe Campbell, and Lorelei Campbell, his mother Yvonne Nice, his sister Kathryn Parish, and his brother Mike Parish. A small memorial service for family was held on March 19, 2021 at Greenwood & Myers in Boulder, CO, with a reception in the Chautauqua Dining Hall. Please consider making a donation in Richard's memory to the Sierra Club at sierraclub.org.