Dave Scott Parker

My beautiful babe, David Scott Parker, passed away peacefully on March 6, 2021 due to the degenerative neurological disease of ALS. He was born on October 6, 1959 in La Jolla, California to Donn and Lorna Parker, and the world brightened on that amazing day. Dave is survived by his wife, Christy Hansen, his father, Donn Parker, his sister Diane Wisdom, the mother of his children, Peggy Parker, his four children, Daniel Parker, Allison Parker, Laura Parker and Andrew Parker, and his grandsons, Jackson and Liam Parker. Dave was predeceased by his loving mother, Lorna Parker. Dave’s heart, mind, and soul touched many, and he will be missed deeply. Dave loved his family deeply and fiercely, and his passing has left a hole in our hearts. Dave’s faith, kindness, and thoughtfulness are unmatched in this world, and his contributions to NASA will continue to bring amazing discoveries and capabilities to our planet. Everything Dave touched turned to gold. Everyone he met became a little happier that day, as his light shined onto them.

Dave loved life and soaked in the joy of being in the outdoors. He enjoyed cycling, skiing, and hiking. He enjoyed camping and cooking, and traveling the world. He worked on cars in his youth, flew airplanes in college, and built model rockets. His desire to learn was unmatched, and I used to call him my life-long learner. As his ALS progressed, we instituted a lecture series dedicated to him, which brought joy and energy to his life; his friends and NASA colleagues participated and he loved it.

Dave had an amazing mind. His mechanical and electrical engineering skills, combined with his kind and respectful nature toward others, contributed to the success of many significant NASA missions. He had a unique ability to identify and solve challenging technical issues, and to greatly improve anything that he touched. Dave’s work on the Hubble Space Telescope Servicing missions helped to keep Hubble alive by repairing and upgrading Hubble’s electrical system, including a power control unit, batteries and solar arrays, the life force of the telescope and what enabled this national asset to make ground-breaking scientific discoveries. Dave also contributed to the electric designs of various technology demonstration payloads that launched to the International Space Station (ISS). When the Robotic Tool Storage unit was installed on ISS in 2020, the spacewalking astronauts who installed the payload thanked Dave on the space to ground communications loops for the whole world to hear. Dave was recognized with many prestigious NASA awards, including the NASA Spaceflight Awareness and Silver Snoopy awards.

Dave’s faith in God was strong, and he shared his message of faith with those closest to him. Heaven has him now, and he can walk, talk, eat, and breathe freely again. His chains are finally gone. May he rest in peace.

Dave wanted us to celebrate his life, so that is exactly what we are going to do. His loved ones on the East and West coast are planning private celebratory events in honor of him. Also, Dave would want to help others fighting this terrible disease, so donations can be made in his name to the ALS Association (MD branch), The Brigance Brigade, or to the I Am ALS organization.

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.   2 Corinthians 4:16-18.