David F. Parody

David’s parents, Frank L. and Gladys (Parda) Parody, proudly welcomed their son into the world on May 26, 1941 in Greenfield, Mass. David grew up in Westfield, MA and was a 1959 graduate of Westfield High School.

Following high school, David enlisted in the Army, and served for three years of which, he was stationed in Korea for a year and a half.

David came to Keene in 1965 to operate the Keene Mill End Store, a responsibility he took great pride in for fifty-five years, running a successful and well-known fabric store in the area, now known as New England Fabrics and Decorating Center.

Perhaps his greatest accomplishment and immense pride centered on his entrepreneurship, and fulfillment of his greatest dream, that of being a “weekend forester” and that of planting Christmas trees on his property on the Aldrich Road, where generations of area families have enjoyed the age old tradition of selecting and cutting their own Christmas Trees for over forty years. It took the Parody family many years to clear the overgrown pasturelands and neglected woodlands. It was lots of hard work however the satisfaction of turning the property that he and his wife, Marcia bought in 1970 into 125 acres of nature’s marvels, made it all worthwhile. Not only did this project produce over 10,000 Christmas trees planted for families to enjoy, it also, as a result of selective cuttings, has generated well over 30,000 board feet of sawlogs and hundreds of cords of firewood.

With all of this great hard work, what once was known as the Town Poor Farm in the 18th century has been transformed into the beautiful Monadnock View Farm, exemplifying the principles of sustainable forestry management. In 2009, Marcia and David were awarded a New Hampshire Farm of Distinction honor, and were selected in 2010 by the NH Tree Farm Committee as the NH Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year.

David was also a member of the NH-VT Christmas Tree Association; the NH Timberland Owners Association; and the Society for the Protection of NH Forests.

He also had a hidden talent as a musician. In 1967, he joined the Keene Lions Club, and played the drums for their 1969 production of the Music Man, and continued performing in all of their annual productions. His commitment to serve others through the Lions Club found him serving as President of the Keene Lions Club from 1975-1976, and in 1976, he was named Lion of the Year for District 44N. He was also Parade Chairman for the first NH/VT Soccer Challenge and was bestowed with the highest award in Lionism, the Melvin Jones Fellow. David also gave of himself as a blood donor with the American Red Cross, and was a member of the 40 gallon club.

When David was able to find some free time, he enjoyed cross country skiing; snowmobiling; hunting; golfing; and hiking, especially on Mt. Washington and the White Mountains, where he could continue taking in the great beauty of the forests and lands that he so truly loved.

David will be greatly missed by many whom he met as an active member of the community, however not as much as by his wife of fifty-five years, Marcia (Alexander) Parody of Keene; his two sons, David Scott Parody and Ronald John Parodi, both of Keene; three grandchildren, Connor Parodi, Griffin Parodi, Emily Parodi; a brother, Gary J. Parody and his wife, Linda, of Palm Beach, FL; a sister, Geraldine O’Connor of Westfield, MA; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Frank Parody.

A Liturgy of the Word will be held on Thursday, December 7th at 11:00AM in St. Margaret Mary Church, 33 Arch Street, Keene, NH. Burial will be private. There are no public calling hours.

In lieu of flowers for those who wish, donations may be made in Mr. Parody’s memory to the American Red Cross NH West Chapter, 83 Court Street, Keene, NH 03431.