Wilson Parke Meek [Jan. 1 1924-Jan. 4 2010]
Parke Wilson Meek was the luckiest man who ever lived. Born in Indiana, Parke saw the world as few ever have. From day one, he never did much he did not want to do. At 18, he was landing on Guadalcanal in the 1st Division USMC. By the time he was done, he had worked with Ray and Charles Eames in the famed Eames Office, and Frank Lloyd Wright, Buckminster Fuller and almost every other designer/architect of his lifetime.
He was the "go to" guy for any unsolveable problem in any design project. Parke had a love and understanding of design and physics which were only surpassed by his love for, and knowledge of, people. At Eames he worked on all their designs, installations and films. He was, as far as can be determined, the only man ever allowed to add to a Frank Lloyd Wright design.
The results of his lifetime thinking and design efforts can be found in the Museum of Modern Art, the Louvre, the British Museum and the Smithsonian Institute.
Despite his giant shadow across the face of contemporary design, Parke was as down to earth as is humanly possible. He was self effacing and modest to the point that few who met him ever knew what his intellectual contributions had been.
Parke Meek was among the rarest of men, in that he told the plain truth, did not suffer fools, yet had not a single enemy. He was convinced that people talk too much and listen too little, yet was warm, approachable and absolutely loved by any and all he met. When asked how he was doing, until his last breath, his answer never changed: "Fantastic!"
For over 30 years, his shop, jAdis on Main Street, Santa Monica, has been a world renowned entity. It is a store filled with wonder, imagination and brilliant examples of both design and theatrical rarities. His collection of technologies and props have appeared in hundreds of films, televison projects, plays, commercials and live performances.
Parke Meek is survived by his beloved partner Susan Lieberman, his son Cole Meek, daughter-in-law Debbie, grandsons Tyler and Dylan, cousins Casey, Jeff, Clarke and William Parke Gettinger, hundreds of Meek Family members from California to Rhode Island, his pals at Finn McCool's and thousands of friends.
http://www.boingboing.net/2010/01/06/rip-parke-meek-eames.html
http://www.smmirror.com/MainPages/DisplayArticleDetails.asp?eid=11671
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9716802@N02/sets/72157607938475183
http://www.smdp.com/Articles-c-2010-01-05-67261.113116_Famed_Eames_design_team_member_dies.html
http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9905/eames.html