Obituary of Nicholas A. Parks

Nicholas Alexander Parks, 25, of 66 Warwick Rd. W.E. Jamestown passed away unexpectedly at 4:15 p.m. Sunday August 12, 2012. A lifelong area resident, he was born June 1, 1987 in Westfield, NY a son of Philip F. and Ann Gustafson Parks. He was a 2005 graduate of Southwestern Central School and had attended the University of Buffalo and Purchase College in Purchase, NY. Nick will be remembered as a loving and caring person with a unique sense of humor and world view. He was a musician who loved playing the drums and had a passion for many kinds of music: hoping to work in sound recording. He published experimental music under the title Jigsaw Hydro Citizen and was road crew and videographer for his brother's band Olympus Mons. He had a tremendous fund of knowledge always reading, loved films and exploring new ideas and interests. He was an accomplished athlete having played hockey for 13 years in Western New York and played on two state championship teams during his high school years. He was a member of the National Honor Society and in college academically excelled at the variety of interests he pursued. He also enjoyed biking, volleyball, baseball and running. Recently he practiced meditation, played acoustic guitar and was tackling an ambitious books to read list given to him by a literary friend. Surviving are his parents of West Ellicott, a brother Joshua Ernewein and a sister in law Rachelle Bollman of Jamestown, his niece and nephews Elliot Cooper, Alexis Ernewein, Owen Cooper all of Jamestown, his paternal grandmother Andree Parks of Dallas, TX, his maternal grandmother Eleanor Loydahl Gustafson of Lakewood, NY, his aunts and uncles Simone Parks of Dallas, TX, Judy Gustafson of Jamestown, Terry Gustafson of Scottsdale, AZ, Todd Gustafson of Homer, AL. He is also survived by his best friend, his dog Goose. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather Ned F. Parks and his maternal grandfather Jack Henderson Gustafson and his aunt Kay Gustafson. A Celebration of Life Service for family and friends will be held at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 22, 2012, in the Zion Covenant Church. The Rev. Steve Kilburn, associate pastor will officiate. The family will receive friends from 4-5 pm Wednesday prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to a scholarship fund for his niece and nephews, c/o Ann Gustafson, 66 Warwick Ave. Jamestown, NY 14701, the Chautauqua County Humane Society, 2825 Strunk Rd. Jamestown, NY 14701 or to a charity of one's choice.