RON PARRY
My Observation
By Stephen Badger

Ron passed away at about 8:00 P.M. on Thursday June 22nd at Brigham and Woman’s Hospital in Boston. Ron had undergone surgery earlier in the day.

The Wake for Ron Parry was held at the McDonald Funeral Home, 809 Main Street South Weymouth on Sunday June 25th from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. I have no idea how many visitors passed through, but I do know that several times during the wake the line was to the small parking area out near Main Street, even in the rain and drizzle.

It is amazing to realize just how many lives Ron had touched. Along with family, and extended family, there were Eagle Scouts and Boy Scouts from Troop 2 and their families. Also Eagle Scouts and Boy Scouts from a few other Troops, notably Troop 78 from Norwell (a troop that has had many scouts join us on Cliff Island). Untold numbers of friends and Scouters from Troop 2, and Troop 78. I also was told a former Scout of Troop 2 flew out from Colorado. He didn’t arrive till after visiting hours but the Funeral Home and a member (or members) of Troop 2 remained so he could pay his respect.

Father O’Leary from Arlington (formally from Immaculate Conception Church) said prayers. As an interesting side note as Father O’Leary was arriving he stopped to talk with a few people out in front of the funeral home. While we were chatting, a large Sunoco tanker truck passed by, (Ron worked for Sunoco for years).

The funeral for Ron was held at the Immaculate Conception Church on Broad Street in East Weymouth on Monday June 26th at 11:30 A.M. Father O’Leary said the Mass.

The funeral procession arrived at the church with the Troop truck used as the hearse carrying Ron and the pallbearers. This was the truck Ron loved. It was a very moving scene and brought tears to many eyes when the pallbearers who were all Eagle Scouts removed the casket from the truck.

At the Mass Boy Scouts served as Alter Boys. Father O’Leary told a few stories about Ron and his church going. These brought laughs and smiles from the gathering. After the Mass, Jim Hamilton got up and said a few words about Ron’s nature and his caring, kind ways. Also a few stories were told. As I looked around the church I saw well over 50 Eagle Scouts who had become Eagles under Ron’s leadership-- what a touching honor and tribute to show their leader.

When the Mass ended, the flag bearers, followed by the Boy Scouts and Eagle Scouts, left the church to form up as an Honor Guard and Drum Corps outside. As the pallbearers exited the church with Ron, the Drum Corps started with a tribute to Ron. The boys did a wonderful job.

The interment was at Fairmount Cemetery on Cedar St. There was an Honor guard from the United States Marine Corps present. Father O’Leary said his prayers, taps was played by a Troop 2 Scout, and the Marine Honor Guard removed the flag from the casket and folded it and presented it to Ron’s brother. It was very moving.

After the burial a collation was held back at the Immaculate Conception Gym. I was told there were nearly 250 people at the hall.

The past several days were devastating, but it was so comforting to know Ron was given the send off of a Hero.

Much credit must be given to everyone involved – to Jimmy Hamilton who did a great job with the Boy Scouts, Ron’s family and Weymouth Heights Club for the collation. I must also give the Boy Scouts of Troop 2 for their tremendous assistance as Honor Guards at the Funeral Home, and at the Church. I was amazed at the number of Eagle Scouts in attendance. This was True Scout Spirit at its very best.

It is my belief that Ron is up there in heaven and probably one of the proudest, and telling all that “THESE ARE MY BOYS”. Also to all the angels up there, watch your wings, if you leave them lying around Ron will sell them at an auction.

Rest in Peace, Ron. You will be missed dearly.

June 28, 2006

The Patriot Ledger
400 Crown Colony Drive
P.O. Box 699159
Quincy, MA 02269-9159
(617) 786-7000

WEYMOUTH’S RON PARRY: Fatherless scout leader had thousands of ‘sons’

By SUSAN PETERS

Recently I took a class in mythology and as a part of a final presentation for this class, we had to define the term ‘‘hero.’’

My team came up with a definition that included the following: A hero is one who has almost supernatural powers. He or she always puts the common good ahead of his or her own needs and wants. He or she is always willing to do whatever it takes to help a human being, particularly one who cannot achieve something on his own.

Last week Weymouth lost a hero. Anyone who has ever watched the parades in Weymouth knew this hero, even if you did not know his name. He was in attendance for virtually every Weymouth parade with his Troop 2 Drum Corps. His name was Ronald W. Parry - Ron to all who knew him for longer than a minute.

Ron fits the description of a hero for many, many reasons. A confirmed bachelor, Ron leaves behind no wife and no biological children, but thousands of boys and men thought of him as a second, and sometimes only, father.

Not a boy who went through the ranks at Troop 2 ever disliked this man. He loved these kids unconditionally and rejoiced in the fact that he met them as boys and they left his Troop as men.

While in Troop 2, boys learned to honor their God, respect their elders, particularly their parents, help anyone in need and take responsibility for themselves and their actions.

Where could you possibly find a better prescription for growing up?

Life in Troop 2 was predictable, yet every week was an adventure.

Speaking from my own experience, which I know is the same type of experience others in the Troop 2 family had, the years my sons spent with Ron helped shape them into the fine young men they are today.

I remember distinctly, during one of my son’s teen-aged years, the only threatened punishment that seemed to make him pause a bit and reflect on his behavior, was the threat, ‘‘What do you suppose Ron would say if I told him what you were doing?’’

After parties where we discovered beer cans that should not have been, many of the parents I know from the troop said to their underage children, ‘‘Clean up this mess and take those empties to Ron and tell him they came from a party you were at!’’

This punishment was worse than anything we could administer, for disappointing Ron was something no scout ever wanted to do.

He was never afraid to discipline our boys if they were in need of it. My oldest son and his friend became one word, heard often around the camp sites and the clubhouse.

‘‘PETERSMARELLA’’ was generally the shout heard just before Ron chased them for getting into some mischief. Never just Peters or Marella, it was PETERSMARELLA!

They knew, when they heard that cry, to run like the dickens until he calmed down. Getting Ron to lunge across the table at you was a badge of honor to the boys.

Once, while on a cross-country trip, Ron was seen knocking a baseball cap off a boy’s head, as he should not have been wearing it indoors and while eating.

Sheepishly, Ron said, ‘‘Sorry, kid,’’ when he realized it was not one of his scouts.

For 50 years, Ron Parry devoted his life to the boys of Troop 2. He served as Scoutmaster since 1975, but was a member of the troop for over 50 years.

The troop boasts over 200 Eagle Scouts and thousands of boys were fortunate enough over the years to have had Ron Parry in their lives.

Each boy was equally important to Ron, and he made certain that every boy was afforded the same opportunities. If you behaved, worked hard and made scouting a priority, you might have been one of the boys invited on the summer trips.

Those trips took many boys all over these United States and parts of Canada.

One year would be the Northwest, another year the Southwest, still a third to the Northeast and Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and a fourth to the Southeast.

Those boys were fortunate enough to have experienced things across this great land that many of us have only dreamed of.

It was while in Troop 2 that thousands of boys developed a very strong sense of community.

Before Memorial Day, all the scouts from Troop 2 visited the graves of every veteran buried in this town and placed flags there to honor those who served our country. It was just what you did.

Ron had a list of people in this town who needed help with snow removal. That list was always covered, no matter how much snow we got in a given winter. The boys would shovel Ron’s people before they even shoveled their own houses out. It was just what was done.

Between the campouts at Valley Pines, the summer camp at Newfound Lake, the weekly meetings at the clubhouse, the canoe trips and the summer cross country trips, the boys in Troop 2 were fortunate enough to have experienced a lifetime of camaraderie, of education, of brotherhood and of a sort of parental love. We shall never find the kind of man Ron Parry was to replace him. Those shoes can never be filled, although there is no doubt that someone who was trained by Ron, who learned from Ron and who has Ron’s love of scouting will step forward to volunteer.

During this past year’s Eagle Court of Awards, Ron got particularly emotional while bestowing the rank of Eagle on this year’s candidates.

This was unusual for Ron, and he blamed it on the medication he was taking. In retrospect, one can only wonder if he had some premonition that 2006 would be his last Eagle Court of Awards.

Perhaps, but regardless of why he was so emotional, it was what prompted me to spend a few minutes with Ron after the ceremony was over. We sat together for a few moments at the end of the evening, and I thanked him for all he had done for both my sons, but in particular for Kevin, who had just received his Eagle from Ron.

‘‘My boys are the men they are today largely because of you,’’ I said. ‘‘Thank you for all you did for them, and for all the boys of Troop 2. They received the best Scouting has to offer because it was given by Ron Parry, and I love you.’’

He wiped away a tear and said. ‘‘Thank you Susan.’’ It was the first time he had ever called me by my first name. Usually, I was Mrs. Peters or ‘‘dear’’ (for that matter, all women were ‘‘dear,’’ largely because he couldn’t remember all our names).

Looking back, I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to tell Ron Parry how much he meant to me. I know I speak for the thousands in this town to whom Ron represented the best that God had to offer.

He is truly the wind beneath the wings of anyone who has ever passed through Troop 2.

Until we meet again, dear friend, ‘‘May God hold you in the palm of His hand.’’

Susan Peters lives in Weymouth.