Edward Harvey Parkes

EDWARD HARVEY PARKES, PhD,  age 88,  passed peacefully on July 4, 2023.  Beloved husband of Carolyn (nee Racine); Loving father of  Elizabeth Parkes Bartek, Michael Parkes (Jo), and Dr. Leslie Shralow (Jeffrey); Dear brother of Dr Joan Parkes-Cohen (Stanley Cohen); Loving grandfather of Alexander, Christine, Nicholas, Allison, and Benjamin.  Also loved by many neighbors, friends and extended family who he mentored and cared deeply for.   Son of the late Jack and Pauline Parkes and brother of the late Michael Parkes, Ed was the grandson of Russian Jewish immigrants, growing up in Brooklyn NY before moving to Northeast Philadelphia as a teenager.    He earned his PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Maryland when he met Carolyn, who would become the love of his life.   He was the Chief of the Psychology Department at Norristown State Hospital for many years where he devoted his career to the marginalized in society.   Known for his quick wit, playfulness, irreverent sense of humor, charisma and generosity,  he spoke his mind, rejecting hierarchies and divisions among people based on privilege, and looking out for the underdog.   Among his favorite passions in life were teaching and helping others, and active hobbies including swimming, scuba diving, bicycling and tennis. He had a deep abiding love for his family, and to his very last day of life offered a beautiful smile of love and recognition throughout his courageous battle with dementia.  Contributions in his memory can be made to the American Civil Liberties Union (action.aclu.org) or the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (www.cbf.org) with notification to his daughter (LesliePshralow@hotmail.com)