Gary J. Parks

Born and raised in South Buffalo, Mr. Parks attended St. Agatha’s School and graduated from South Park High School in 1973. He interviewed for a job at Moog Inc. on his 18th birthday and got it, thereby beginning his 42-year career at the company. He married his high school sweetheart, Michele, that fall and the two welcomed their first child the following year. Mr. Parks worked nights in the company’s machine shop while attending the University of Buffalo during the day. He graduated with an economics degree in 1980. Eventually, Mr. Parks was promoted from machinist to cost accountant.

Mr. Parks held several different positions at Moog throughout the eighties and nineties.

In 1996, Mr. Parks was promoted and relocated to Cheltenham, England, where he worked for the company’s International Group as European Controller. He remained in England with his family until 2014, when Mr. Parks returned to western New York to head Moog’s Industrial Aftermarket Services.

While abroad, Mr. Parks traveled extensively with his wife throughout Europe and Asia. Mr. Parks also loved to spend time with his family at his summerhouse on Lake Erie in Canada. He especially enjoyed setting up movies and fires on the beach for his grandchildren, ages one through ten. He was a proud alumnus of The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where he obtained his MBA

Gary is survived by his beloved wife Michele S. (Evans); dear father of Jason (Jennifer), Jeremy (Sharon), Carrie (James) Appler, Patrick (Donna) and Katherine (Jacob) Steck; grandfather of Carly, Olivia, Evan, Jude, Zoe, Elise, Whitney, Ella, Nicola, Cole, Noelle and Thomas; brother of David (Marcia), JoAnn (Mark) Johnston and Patricia Parks (Guy Nirelli); also survived by many nieces and nephews. Friends may call Tuesday 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the WOOD FUNERAL HOME, 784 Main St., East Aurora. Friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church (Clinton at Girdle, Elma), Wednesday at 10 AM. Share condolences at www.woodfh.com.