David L. Parrish

March 14, 1943 - September 13, 2019

David Leonard Parrish, age 76, died peacefully at home on Sept. 13, 2019. Dave was born the second of three children on March 14, 1943, in Detroit, Michigan. He attended Walled Lake Jr. and Sr. High School where he sang tenor in various musicals and plays. He also played trumpet in high school band, ran cross-country, and played softball. Bitten by the music bug, Dave sang in the Youth for Understanding Chorale in 1961, traveling throughout Central and South America. Dave’s experience singing in the youth chorale was transformative in that he saw first-hand how music connects and creates bridges across cultures. In the fall of 1961 Dave enrolled at Central Michigan University (CMU) as a music major. While at CMU Dave sang in musicals, played trumpet in the marching band (Fire Up Chips!) and met his future wife, Mary, who was also studying music. Dave and Mary wed on February 6th, 1965. Shortly after, Dave graduated from CMU with a bachelor’s degree in music education. Dave began his teaching career in Traverse City in the fall of 1965 as the choir director at the junior high. In 1970, Dave and Mary adopted Christopher David Parrish. Chris is now a paramedic firefighter in Benzie County. In 1982 Mary and David were surprised to learn that they were going to have a child. Michael Charles Parrish was born on November 3rd, 1982. In 1973 Dave earned a master’s degree in music education from CMU and continued to teach music in Traverse City. In 1977 Dave was director of Traverse City High School choirs. During this time, he also taught music appreciation. Dave would often recall how the students taught him as much as he taught them. He revealed to them the genius of Mozart, they taught him about the earth-shattering power of Led Zeppelin. From 1979 to 1986 Dave served as the head of the music department for Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS). He held this position again from 1998-2004. Dave was involved in a number of community activities outside of teaching. He was a member of the Munson Medical Center Biomedical Ethics Committee from 1986-1994; volunteered as a soccer coach for the YMCA in the early 1990s; directed the Rotary Minstrel Chorus, and directed the Leland Community Sing for over forty years; was a member of the Advisory Council for NMC’s “Life Academy” from 2004 to 2014. Dave was also on the board of Jeff Haas’ Building Bridges With Music from 2011 to 2019. Building Bridges seeks to reduce bullying in schools by promoting tolerance using the universal language of music to reach children and bring them together. Dave served on the board until his health forced him to resign in the spring of 2019. In the 1980s, Dave began studying humanities at CMU and earned a second master’s degree. During this time, he met future teaching partner and lifelong friend, Lyn Salathiel. Together at Traverse City Senior High School they developed a revolu-tionary method of teaching using a team approach. The two designed lessons that utilized art, music, literature, history, film, and poetry to teach a central idea. Building the humanities program was one of Dave’s great passions and the sheer joy he experienced while teaching during this time was one of the high points of his career. Dave was a gift to the world. The humanities revealed in Dave exuberance for life that would continue on until his final days. The sacred was everywhere for him. He found his bliss in fishing (lots and lots of fishing), in family, in Rembrandt or van Gogh, in Mozart and Beethoven, in all the poets, singers, writers, and profound thinkers of the world. The beauty in the world elated Dave. He always saw the best in people, the potential for what could be. The relentless optimist, he never gave up on looking toward the light. Dave touched innumerable lives, and transformed the way people think. He opened up minds to the beauty of the world and brought unconditional love to family and friends. The countless testimonies on social media from former students of Dave attests to the impact he had on this community. In retirement Dave continued to teach, learn, travel, read, conduct, cook, and fish. In the early 2000s he reunited with Lyn Salathiel and the dynamic duo taught classes through the Extended Education Services for Northwestern Michigan College Life Academy. Dave taught his final class on May 10th, 2019, at NMC’s campus day. The theme of the class was “The Power of Work.” Dave put off his chemotherapy treatment to teach this class. He summoned all the strength he had and with poise, and the power of his passion for teaching, gave his final lesson. And it was a great one. Dave was also highly charitable and was a frequent donor to many non-profit organizations throughout the community and the state of Michigan. Dave’s ashes will be spread at his two favorite places: Bass Lake in Omena, Michigan, and Morro Bay in California. These were sacred spaces to Dave where he felt intimately connected to the natural world. Dave is preceded in death by his parents, Milton and Bettie (Thorden) Parrish, and brother Donald Parrish. He is survived by brother Paul Parrish, and Paul’s son, Nathan Parrish (Ph.D.), sister-in-law Sally (Watt) Parrish of Ann Arbor and her children Susan (Parrish) Push and husband Tony Push, and their children Ashley Push (DPT), and Jacob Push; Mark David Parrish; Steven Paul Parrish and wife Caitlyn and children Ada and Mateo Parrish; sister-in-law Margaret (Priebe) Beery and husband John Beery; nephews and nieces John C. Beery and wife Anne Beery and children Sara Beery, and John William Beery; Michael Beery; Maryanne Beery and husband Eric Synder, (Ph.D.) and their children Margaret and Clara Snyder. Also, dear cousins; Christine (Thorden) Kaninski of Frankfort, MI and Richard Steffan, (Ph.D.) of Maryland. Dave’s kindness, generosity, grace, brilliance, strength, and love will never be forgotten. A Memorial Arts Celebration (AKA: Dave’s Final Lesson Plan) will take place on October 12th at Central United Methodist Church at 11:00 am. A visitation will occur be-fore the memorial at 10:00 am. All are welcome to attend. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a memorial donation in Dave’s honor to the Traverse City Music Booster Inc., 412 Webster St. Traverse City, MI 49686. http://traversecitymusicboosters.com/contact.html. Donations can also be made to Northwestern Michigan College Children’s Choir, 1701 E. Front St. Traverse City, MI 49686 or Building Bridges with Music, P.O. Box 1225, Traverse City, MI 49685. Please feel free to share your thoughts and memories with Dave’s family at his tribute page at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com. The family is being cared for by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral and Cremation Services.