In Memoriam

William Lee Parker (March 7, 1945 – September 1, 2019) passed away at his home in Hermosa Beach, CA, surrounded by many family members and loved ones of every stripe. Lee was born in Meridian, MS to Deaf parents and was raised in Gardena, CA, where he graduated from Serra High School in 1963. He married his lifelong love, Christine Sisson, in 1966, and together they raised four children and twelve grandchildren over the next 53 years.

A strong proponent of higher education, Lee was the first person in his family to graduate college, earning his degree from Long Beach State University in 1967. He went on to receive his Ph.D. in Audiology from the University of Florida in 1973. Lee served as the Director of Audiology at the San Francisco Speech and Hearing Center for two years before opening the Parker Hearing Institute in Torrance, CA. He dedicated the next 45 years of his career to helping those of us with hearing loss.

In 1978, Lee met his best friend, Phil Burney, and together they established the Palm Springs Hearing Seminars, an annual continuing education seminar that continues to this day.

Lee was a generous man who quietly donated to many charities and opened his home to family and friends alike. Lee and Chris traveled the world together, often with their grandchildren, and loved RV-ing with the Los Compadres Riding Club of Palm Springs while touring the United States. Of particular note, Lee loved camping at Rincon, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon, and he even rode in the Orpheus Mardi Gras Parade in New Orleans for his 55th birthday.

Lee was happiest when surrounded by friends and family; eating, drinking, laughing, and enjoying all the great things life has to offer. He served as a mentor and father figure to countless friends of the family, teaching us how to work hard, provide for our families, live each day as if it were our last, and not take life too seriously.

We carry on Dad’s mission of helping while having fun. Parker Hearing Institute remains a close-knit, friendly, family-run practice, not “mom and pop,” but also not Corporate Medical. Empathetic, cutting-edge, client-centered care is what we do.