Reed Anderson Parks

Reed Anderson Parks, a resident of Toronto, Ontario, passed away at Michael Garron Hospital on March 4, 2023, after losing a courageous battle to liver failure. Reed was born on February 4, 1969, in Providence, Rhode Island and was 54 at the time of his death. Reed is survived by his three wonderful children Claire, Samuel, and Matthew who he cherished and doated about always. Reed was predeceased by his father A. Lauriston Parks and is survived by his mother Martha A. Parks (Anderson) of Wickford, RI; sister Amy Parks Crownover of Nashville, TN; brother and sister in-law George and Lynda Parks of Cohasset, MA; and was a beloved uncle to his eight nieces and nephews. Reed will also be missed as a part of their lives by his in-laws, Donna and Dennis Maloney, Barbara, Paul, and former wife Julie. Reed leaves behind countless cherished friends who he touched throughout his life both in Toronto and the United States.

As a young man, Reed was an extraordinary athlete competing as a nationally ranked and All-State hammer thrower and playing All-State football at Bishop Hendricken High School in Warwick, RI. Reed went on to Bowling Green University in Ohio where he was an All-American, Mid-American Conference Champion hammer thrower and competed in many prestigious events including The Penn Relays, 92’ Olympic Trials and the 93’ US and NCAA Championships.

Reed’s pursuits after university took him to Colorado where he started in Breckenridge on the mountain in the winter and as a landscaper in the summer. Reed then moved into the retail business in the Denver area owning a Colorado Hat Company store and Rocky Mountain Liquors. In 2004 Reed headed to Toronto with then wife, Julie Maloney, and two children Claire and Sam, and he continued in the retail business with his ownership of Mr. Movie. In Toronto the family grew with the birth of Matthew and Reed’s life was dedicated to his children, family, and of course hockey in all forms. Reed transitioned from his career in the retail business to commercial real estate working for Avison Young and most recently Royal Lepage.

Reed loved to do most anything on the water and above all fishing, whether it be for pickerel with the kids on Perry Sound, for striped bass in the waters off Cohasset, MA, salmon from the rivers in the Rockies, or anything else he could figure out how to get a hook into or trap as a boy on Narraganset Bay in Rhode Island. What Reed enjoyed most in life was getting to one of his happy places; at an event involving Claire, Sam, or Matthew’s athletics; as a kid on any field with a competition he could take part in, as a teen working a summer on Cuttyhunk Island in Massachusetts; as a young man summer around the Blue River in Breckenridge; at the cottage or on the water in Perry Sound; or just being around people in a social environment no matter what the occasion.

A loving soul that will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday, March 25 from 11 AM to 2 PM (remembrances at 12 Noon) at the Balmy Beach Club in Toronto

In lieu of flowers, the family requests you consider a donation to a youth sports charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.giffenmackdanforth.com for the Parks family.