William (Bill) Howard Parmenter

After a long life filled with family and friends, adventures and love, William (Bill) Howard Parmenter died peacefully on January 19, 2023 at the Margaret Pratt Community in Bradford, Vermont with his wife by his side. He had reached the end of his long journey with Alzheimer’s Disease. He was 85 years old.
Bill was born on October 29, 1937 in Amsterdam, New York, to Maurice and Jane Parmenter. He spent his childhood years living in a variety of towns in the foothills of the Adirondacks, eventually settling with his parents and brothers in Mayfield, New York, where he graduated from high school in 1955. At an early age, his passion for music emerged, and he spent several years in the “Ticonderoga Cadets”, a competitive drum and bugle corps, as well as singing in the church choir and high school chorus. He was also active in sports and was president of his class, the first of many leadership positions in his life.
He received his Associate of Science degree in Heating/Air Conditioning/Refrigeration from Hudson Valley Technical Institute in 1958, and his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Education from the State University of New York at Oswego in 1960. His post-graduate work included a degree in Guidance from the State University of New York at Albany in 1962, and a Master of Arts in Educational Psychology with Pupil Personnel Emphasis from California State University, Long Beach in 1966.
In 1963, Bill moved with his family, which by then included two young sons, to Southern California. It seemed to be the time to leave small town life, and start anew in the fast-paced, exciting, and vibrant world of the West Coast.
Bill held a number of teaching positions in local junior and high schools, helping his students hone their skills in industrial arts. After completing his Master’s Degree, he changed focus and became the Coordinator of Counseling and Guidance for the Orange County Department of Education in 1970.
In 1973, he became an academic counselor in the Health Science Division at Cypress College, eventually becoming the Dean of Counseling and Student Services, the position in which he served until his retirement in 1998. In those years, Bill not only enriched the lives of hundreds of students with his wise counsel and advice, but also affected the lives of countless faculty and staff, leaving footprints of kindness and love, courage and compassion, humor and inspiration on their hearts.
Upon retirement, Bill and his wife Sue decided to return to their roots in the East, where they built the log home of their dreams, and settled back into small town life in Vermont. Bill loved his community, his home and land, peace and justice, all aspects of nature, travel, music (especially singing), and his pets.
He is survived by his wife Sue of Corinth, Vermont, two brothers: Robert Parmenter (Marion) of Voorheesville, New York and Jon Richard Parmenter of Palm Bay, Florida; his sons: Todd of Hemet, California and Scott (Betty) of Vista, California; four grandchildren: Nicole Buffini (AJ), Desiree Parmenter (Sarah), Jessica Puente (Chase), and Josh Parmenter; a nephew and niece: Jerry (Monica) Parmenter and Heather Reiffer (Mike); and three great grandchildren.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, February 18 at 11 am at the East Corinth Congregational Church in East Corinth, Vermont.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the East Corinth Congregational Church, to Bayada Hospice of Norwich, Vermont, to the Evergreen Singers (P.O. Box 385) of Norwich, Vermont, or to the Upper Valley Humane Society.
Hale Funeral Home is assisting the family.