Ronald B.  Parks

Ronald B. Parks, age 62, of Lansing passed away on Saturday, September 7, 2013 at Hospicare after a long, courageous battle with cancer.

Ron was born in Waverly on October 30, 1950. He grew up in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania and graduated from Wellsboro High School.

Ron retired this year after 42 years of dedicated service to Cornell University. He was very proud to have served a term as one of Cornell’s first Employee Trustees and as a member of the employee assembly. He spent his entire career advancing through a variety of roles in Cornell’s Information Technology organization. Ron’s work ethic was exceptional. He always had time for his co-workers and generously shared a helping hand and a quick wit. As Brian's father, Ron enjoyed participating for several years in the Lansing Baseball Program as well as the Lansing Cub Scout and Boy Scout Troops. He had been a member of the Lansing Volunteer Fire Department and enjoyed golfing and fishing. Above all, Ron loved spending time with his family and friends and took particular pride in his son.

A loving and devoted husband and father, Ron is survived by his wife of 37 years, Marcia; cherished son, Brian; siblings, James (Gail) Parks, Marlene McCall, Larry Drake, Charles (Liz) Drake, Blanche Volbrecht, and Shirley Woodward; mother-in-law Ethal Bucci; sister in law, Karen (Ted) Murray; brother-in-law, James Bucci (Ann Ellis); and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard Lawrence Parks and Helen Gladys Utter Parks; siblings Dorothy Lee and Albert Parks; and father-in-law, Adam Bucci.

Marcia and Brian would like to extend a special thanks to the caring staff at Hospicare for their partnership in guiding Ron’s last weeks with compassion and kindness.

The family will be present to receive friends from 11:00am to 1:00pm on Thursday, September 12, 2013 at the Ness-Sibley Funeral Home, 23 South Street, Trumansburg. Graveside services will be held privately for family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ron’s memory to the SPCA of Tompkins County, 1640 Hanshaw Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 or Hospicare of Tompkins County, 172 E. King Road, Ithaca, NY 14886.