URISA Remembers Dan Parr
Dan Parr passed away on September 9, 2009. The GIS community, URISA Members and friends and so many more have lost a treasured friend. As we have been remembering Dan and sharing our favorite “Dan Stories” the common thread we hear is how much he loved his family, Ellen, David and Adam; his quick wit; his sense of humor and optimism; and his deep compassion for those in need.
We will miss his ability to make everyone he met his friend and bring a smile to every situation. He carried his compassion for fairness, justice and education with him always. URISA has been honored to have Dan as a colleague (and URISA President, 2003-2004).
Dan has Geography and Political Sciences degrees from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. While in Madison he and Ellen and others started the New Wine Commune on Gorham Street. He worked on information systems and GIS implementations in Texas, Florida, Wisconsin, Indiana, Maryland, Virginia and Egypt to name a few. Always finding innovative ways to make data work, to turn raw facts into information and to weave knowledge from analysis. He was always active in local politics, like the Voters for a Better Blair, campaigns for local elected officials or local school referendums.
In Dan’s own words “We need to connect with each other to improve the way government, business, and society work.” How right you are Dan. And how much harder this will be to do without you. - Nancy von Meyer
