I got an email this morning that a friend of mine from LA passed away. I don't know the specifics and I don't want to guess.
What I do want is to hold a good thought for him.
(9/5 After I wrote this I found out more details. Tragic. Alan had battled addiction and for a long time was winning, but alas, he lost the battle. Drugs kill! Our disease wants us dead! It ries to mask itself in fun and pleasure, but in the end, it destroys! Very sad!)
I knew Alan back in LA and always remember him as quiet, but with a wonderful smile! And, when I found out he sang, I had him do our Christmas show at Plummer Park. He played Keith Partridge when we sang "To You and All Your Family" from the Partridge Family Christmas album. He was wonderful. Mike Rizzo built a cardboard cutout of the Partridge Family bus and they all had great costumes. I was so happy to see Alan having fun.
I also talked him into singing "Christmas Belongs to You" which was one of the songs I had recorded for Mike Ricciardi. He did an amazing job of it and it was so heartwarming to hear him and watch him work through his fears.
One of the saddest memories I have though is a story he told about his childhood. Alcoholism can turn people into monsters and make them do horrible things to others.
It broke my heart to hear that story and I always wanted to make sure I could make him smile and feel loved whenever I could.
He was a special man who did many great things. I know he worked on the AIDS Rides with Dan Palotta. He helped many.
You will be missed Alan, and you will be remembered!
Watch over his family and friends God, and please make a special place for Alan with you.
This is from an email I received.
Alan Parker 1960-2008
+++++++++++++++++++
In case you have not already heard, I’m writing to share with you the very sad news of Alan Parker’s passing. Of course this tragic news is especially heartbreaking to those of us who trudged the road of Recovery with Alan and I know that all us of are experiencing tremendous grief and sadness in this moment. I extend to you my deepest condolences on the loss of our friend.
There will be a memorial service in Los Angeles later this month. The details for the memorial service are not finalized at this time but will be forthcoming as soon as they are available.
Alan’s family has requested that those who wish to honor Alan please send donations to one of the following organizations:
Lamp Community
527 Crocker Street
Los Angeles , CA 90013
Donate online at http://lampcommunity.org/?page_id=220
or call Lara Long at 213.488.9559, extension 15
Calm Waters Center for Children and Families Northwest Office Center 4334 NW Expressway, Suite 101 Oklahoma City, OK 73116 Donate online at http://www.calmwaters.org/donate.htm
or call Lisa Kibblewhite at (405) 841.4800
**************************************
0 comments:
Post a Comment