Dr. Ernest Park, Jr.

Ernest Littleton Park, Jr. (Ernie) of Mountain Brook Alabama, passed away on March 27, 2025. He was a beloved father, grandfather, physician, businessman, and friend whose life was richly lived. He married François Marie Therese Armangeat of Bordeaux, France in 1963 and subsequently adopted her young son, Patrick. They enjoyed a life together for 50 years before her passing. Patrick has one son, Clayton Park, who is training to be a pilot.

Ernie was born on October 11, 1936 in Orangeburg, South Carolina and grew up in Charleston, S.C. and Mobile, Alabama where he majored in Pre-Med at Spring Hill College. He went on to secure his M.D. from UAB and worked as a general physician in Birmingham and Atlanta.

He was given a U.S Top Security Clearance and served as Flight Surgeon USAF for two years. After an honorable discharge, he entered the health field as Assistant Medical Director for Squibb in Princeton, NJ. With expertise in management and medicine, he became Assistant Medical Director for Park-Davis, President and COO of SPI Pharmaceutical Inc. (NYSE), President and COO Healthcare USA (NYSE), President CIGNA Health plans, Whittaker Corporation (NYSE), including Whittaker Saudi-Arabia Ltd., and President of Microbiological Associates. He also held various executive positions for ICN Pharmaceuticals (NYSE) including Vice President Marketing-Europe and President of the French Subsidiary.

As a high power medical executive, he lived in Switzerland, Saudi-Arabia, Paris, New Jersey, Maryland, California, Washington, DC., Atlanta, and Birmingham. While working in Newport Beach, California, he joined the Cousteau Yacht Club and enjoyed sailing for several years.

In 1989, he moved back to Birmingham and entered medical school again to become a Psychiatrist. He practiced as a Neuro-Psychiatrist at UAB and in private practice until retirement.

Ernie had a magical life enjoying the finest foods, wonderful places of interest, art, music, and impressive relationships. He was a brilliant individual with an incredible memory. He read constantly...sometimes a whole book a night...was a gourmet cook, an avid crossword puzzle worker, and a great marksman with a collection of impressive guns.

The world was blessed by his life, and he will be greatly missed.

Funeral services for Dr. Park will be conducted at eleven o'clock in the morning on Monday, the 7th of April at Ridout's Valley Chapel in Homewood. Friends are cordially invited to the reception immediately following the service until 1:00 p.m. Graveside services with military honors will then be conducted at two o'clock in the afternoon at Alabama National Cemetery located at 3133 Highway 119, Montevallo, Alabama 35115.

In lieu of usual remembrances, Ernie would have instead preferred that memorial contributions be directed to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at any of the eight clinics across the United States or by visiting their website at https://www.stjude.org

Services are under the direction of Ridout's Valley Chapel (205-879-3401) in Homewood.