David William Parke, MD

Dr. David William Parke, Academy Life Fellow, died Nov. 13, 2020, at the age of 97 at his home in Connecticut.

An Academy member since 1957, Dr. Parke’s lifelong community leadership and prolific service to people with low vision was celebrated with the Academy’s Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award in 2002 and the Senior Achievement Award in 2013.

“It’s hard to overestimate his impact on the profession of ophthalmology and on the Academy,” said Academy president Anne L. Coleman, MD, PhD, “after 32 years of active practice and another 20 years spent directly helping those with low vision and blindness.”

He chaired the Academy’s national committees on State Affairs and on Government Relations, and served on the Senior Ophthalmologist Committee from 1998 to 2016. For 14 years, he was editor of the Academy’s Scope newsletter for senior ophthalmologists.

Dr. Parke retired from medical and surgical ophthalmology in 1988 and embarked on a second career serving patients with low vision and blindness. He served multiple terms as president of the Connecticut Society of Eye Physicians and was a clinical professor of ophthalmology at Yale University. His son and grandson also are ophthalmologists

Read Dr. Parke’s life story on Legacy.com.

If you would like to remember Dr. Parke with a contribution to benefit Academy programs, visit the Academy Foundation’s donation page, select the program you wish to support (or choose a general contribution), choose your gift amount, and select “yes” to make it in honor or memory of someone. You’ll then be able to fill in Dr. Parke’s name and your comments.