Christine Parker and I met in 1976 … 40 years ago … a long time, but it seems like yesterday. She had been married to a man before we met, and was in the process of divorcing him, when he died. We met after that, and became fast friends. Unlike me, she was not gay, but we fell in love hard and fast. We lived as a couple for 19 years and 10 months, and after separating, we remained best friends for the next 20 years until her death on July 28. Together, we mourned the losses of all our parents. We have been totally committed to being there for each other until her passing. We had amazing times in our life together. We were both in college in the beginning, and lived modestly in apartments in Queens. Later, we traveled and built a home, with lots of love and stray dogs. We were frequent habitués of the Silver Lining, a gay club near our home. For our first few summers together we went to gay beaches at Jones Beach or Riis Park every weekend. We went camping often, and eventually started visiting Cherry Grove. As we went from beach day trippers to weekenders, we grew to love partying in Cherry Grove. The next step was our seasonal rental at Dune Point. We really settled into being entrenched in the life in Cherry Grove. We made many friends in town, and still had the rental when we separated. Our friendship never dwindled. Christine continued to come and visit me in Cherry Grove, and I stayed with her often, after I sold my home in Long Island.
Christine was born in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and grew up in New Hyde Park, Nassau County in Long Island. We actually both went to the same high school, but never knew each other there, because of the two year age difference, I guess. Like many of our generation, her grandparents were all immigrants, hers from Poland. Her parents were first generation Americans. The first in her family to attend college, Christine attained two Master’s degrees, and was All But Doctorate for her PhD. She was an accomplished Nutrition Educator in several colleges, and had worked for New York City as a School Food Service Manager for many years. She also worked in the clinical field in renal dietetics. She retired several years ago, and followed me to live near me in California. After a catastrophic double lung infection last winter, she was not expected to survive, yet she awoke from a coma and was thriving with some limitations. Her health was an issue, but she was holding her own. Her sudden, unexpected death was due to a severe bone infection after a fall at home.
In spite of all other relationships we both had, we are life partners to the end. Christine is “The Wife of My Life.” Visitation is at New Hyde Park Funeral Home on Tuesday August 9 from 2 to 4 pm and 7 to 9 pm, with service at 8 pm. Subsequent private cremation (as per her expressed wishes) and private internment with her parents in St. Charles Cemetery.