Daniel J. Parr
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Daniel J. Parr of Rye died February 27th 2021` from Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia. He was born in Concord, NH, September 14, 1939, the eldest son of Vincent and Eleanor Parr. Dan grew up in Warner, NH, a community which he held dear, graduating from Simonds Free High School in 1957. The first of his family to go to university, Dan attended UNH, graduating in 1961. He later earned a master's degree from Plymouth State.
Dan was an excellent baseball player, declining a minor league offer following his final season at UNH to instead start his career in education. For several years Dan played for Portsmouth's old Northeast League team where he met his wife Sue following a game at Leary Field in 1959.
Dan was an avid and competitive golfer, learning to play at Duston Country Club in Hopkinton, and then joining the Portsmouth Country Club in the early 70's. He loved competing in the annual Seacoast Amateur Tournament, the Wednesday night league as well as countless rounds with the "Ripley Raiders" group over the years.
Dan enjoyed a lengthy and distinguished 55 year career as a social studies teacher and a coach of high school sports, most notably basketball. His teams won several state championships, and Dan was honored to have been selected into three coaching "Halls of Fame". He got immense satisfaction working and interacting with young people, helping students to develop and excel both on the court and even more so in the classroom. Dan possessed a passion for teaching. With his uniquely dramatic teaching style, Dan motivated students with predictable sarcasm, dry humor and his trademark role of playing the devil's advocate. He often mentioned how fortunate he was to have chosen a coaching/teaching career which provided so much emotional and intellectual fulfillment.
Dan taught and coached varsity boys basketball at Hopkinton High School from 1961-1970. In 1970 he moved to Portsmouth High School where he coached varsity boys basketball until 1982, continuing to teach at PHS until 2017 when he finally was forced to retire because of health issues. For 27 years, Dan coached varsity boys basketball at St. Thomas Aquinas in Dover, and between 2012 to 2017 he returned to coach in Portsmouth, this time leading the varsity girls basketball team through five successful seasons.
Above all else, Dan would want to be remembered as an incredibly proud and loving father, grandfather and husband. Family is what always mattered most in his life.
Dan deeply appreciated his colleagues, his fellow coaches and his friends scattered all over the state. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Sue, his son Michael, daughter Karen, granddaughter Ella Doyle and grandson Benjamin Doyle, as well as his brother Ed Parr. He was predeceased by two brothers, Richard Parr of Michigan and Gerald Parr of Florida.
Due to limitations with COVID-19, a private family service will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be sent for a scholarship being established in Dan's name at Portsmouth High School. Checks payable to "PHS Dan Parr Scholarship" c/o Tom Kozikowski, Athletic Director, 50 Andrew Jarvis Drive, Portsmouth NH 03801. For online condolences, visit: www.jvwoodfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction and care of the J. Verne Wood Funeral Home and Cremation Service - Buckminster Chapel.