Obituary of Keith Bradley Parkhurst

Keith passed away Sept. 6 at UCSF Medical Center at the age of 66 from ongoing medical complications. He was born in Rochester, NY to William Parkhurst and Joanna Carmody. When he was 12, his family moved to Santa Cruz which became the home he loved. He attended Branciforte J.H. and Santa Cruz H.S. where he succeeded in academics, football, and wrestling. After high school he went to Humboldt State University in Arcata, California where he had the good fortune to meet one of his lifelong friends Dan Jones. The first week of school Dan and Keith hitch hiked to a public dance where he met Claire and they kept dancing for 48 years. Keith attended UCSC for a year then graduated from Humboldt State with a Biology degree and teaching credential in 1971. Keith and Claire were married in 1970, and they lived in Eureka for 7 years. He went to work at St. Bernard's H.S. where, as a young teacher and coach, he learned much about student needs and forming lasting relationships. Making his way back to Santa Cruz he taught and coached at Monte Vista H.S. in Danville and then North Monterey High School. Over the next 25 years Keith was Assistant Principal, Principal, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Superintendent at North Monterey County School District and Santa Cruz School District. Respect for his leadership, mentorship and passion for education for all was well deserved. He often said that he loved every day of his career and wished he could do it all over again. Andrew was born in 1984, and Keith took pride in (and liked to talk about) his son's accomplishments and his service as an officer in the U.S. Navy. Friends and family were important to Keith, including his lifelong friends from his youth and the friends he worked with in schools and the Association of California School Administrators. He was a Member Services Rep in A.C.S.A and a board member of the For Kids Foundation, organizations for which he held high esteem. He liked sports, cooking and camping, but travel is what he really looked forward to. With Claire and Andy he visited the U.S. from Hawaii to New England, Canada, and Europe and was always planning the next trip. Keith leaves his wife, Claire, son Andrew, sister Rebecca and her husband Steve. Also brothers and sisters-in law Samuel Murray, Richard and Kay Gladden, Doris Frasier, David and Sharon Gladden. Also nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews. Keith was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Phoebe Murray and nephew Bruce Murray. He was fortunate to be part of the Jones Family, the Gabrio Family, the Cronin Family, the Phillips Family, the Del Grande Family, the Stanford Family and in England the Powell Family. A Memorial Service will be held for Keith on Saturday, September 13, 2014 at Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga Street in Santa Cruz beginning at 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the For Kids Foundation Monterey Bay, P.O. Box 891, Capitola, CA 95010, www.forkidsfoundationmontereybay,org.