Irwin L. “Bro” Park, Jr. 89, died peacefully at FirstHealth Hospice House, Pinehurst on Friday May 4, 2018. He was born March 14, 1929, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was one of three sons of the late Irwin L. And Barbara Wartman Park. Bro Park is survived by his former wife, Audrey, his three sons, Win, Robert and Douglas Park, and by his loving wife of nearly thirty-seven years, Adelle (Dee) Park. He was predeceased by his brothers, W. Richard and John N. Park, and a son, Jeffrey D. Park, in 2011. He is also survived by Dee’s three sons, Kevin, Jeffrey and Timothy. Dee and Bro have seven daughters-in-law and seventeen grandchildren, and Eloise (Ellie), their cat.
Bro Park moved from Philadelphia in 1973, where he was a Vice President of the then Provident National Bank to become a Vice President of the National Life Insurance Company, Montpelier, Vermont. He retired from National Life in 1984 to become Executive Director of University Relations and Development at Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont, from which he retired in 1987 and with his wife, Dee, bought a retail kitchenware business, Board and Basket, in West Lebanon, New Hampshire. They owned and operated Board and Basket until they sold the business in 2002 and moved to Pinehurst, North Carolina in 2005.
Bro graduated from William Penn Charter School, Philadelphia, in 1946 and from Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts, in 1950. He completed the American College of Life Underwriters degree (CLU) in 1967.
Bro’s happiest times were family visits, traveling, spending time with friends and being involved in conservative causes with Dee. Bro enjoyed golf, belonging for nearly fifty years in a golf group, the Fergarwes, which he founded with his brothers. He was a member of The Village Chapel, and formerly belonged to Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church, Southern Pines, NC. Bro was a member of the Moore County Republican Party and the Republican Men’s Club. Previously Bro was a member of the Philadelphia Cricket Club and the Union League of Philadelphia.
A memorial service will be held at The Village Chapel on Wednesday, May 16th, at 2:00 PM, and his ashes will be spread in the Chapel’s Memorial Garden.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Village Chapel at 10 Azalea Road Pinehurst, NC 28374.
To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Irwin Leonard Park, Jr., please visit Boles’ Tribute Store.
Online condolences: BolesFuneralHome.com.
Mr. Park’s family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers at Sandhills Sentinel.
