In the fall of 1967, Roger Parks was checking out “the impressionable young freshman” girls at the University of Kentucky when he met the woman who would change his life.
“I saw Lyn Routenberg and made a drunken phone call at 2 a.m. to ask her out,” Parks recalled with a laugh. “After she cursed me out and hung up on me, a fraternity brother of mine fixed me up on a blind date to cheer me up. I only went because the girl was in the sorority with the prettiest girls on campus. That’s how I met Georgina and we were together ever since.”
Routenburg has remained close friends with both Roger and Georgina Parks since she made that fateful decision to spurn the young sophomore’s advances.
“I always feel a bit uncomfortable telling that story,” said Routenburg. “But no one got a better laugh or enjoyed telling it more than Georgina.”
Married shortly after Georgina’s graduation from the University of Kentucky in 1971, Roger and Georgina Parks moved to Alexandria and would be together for more than 43 years before her death from cancer on Oct. 16. She was 65.
Born Jan. 7, 1949 in Lexington, Ky., Georgina Ruley Parks was the younger of two daughters born to Helen Logsdon Ruley and George Woodrow Ruley. Known as George to her family and friends, she grew up on Swigert Avenue and graduated in 1967 from Bryan Station High School where she was an all-state violinist.
After her arrival in Alexandria, Georgina Parks worked for the Alexandria City Public Schools from 1972 through 1986 as a speech-language pathologist where she created innovative strategies and techniques for working with young children with disabilities. In 1986, she founded The Clinical Connection, a quarterly idea source for speech-language pathologists working with the young communicator and served as its editor and publisher. Georgina and her husband Roger partnered in building American Advertising Distributors of Northern Virginia, a direct mail advertising agency, where she served as vice president for 35 years.
“I remember when we first collaborated on that first doggone holiday book,” recalled Potomac Riverboat Company vice president Charlotte Hall of the city’s popular retail and restaurant coupon book. “Georgina was always so full of ideas but didn’t care who got the credit. She just wanted to get things done.”
An active volunteer in Alexandria's Chamber of Commerce and a strong advocate for women in business and professions, Georgina was also an accomplished composer and pianist.
“Georgina was always so full of life,” Hall said. “I never saw her without a smile.”
A member of the Kappa Delta Sorority, Georgina Parks remained lifelong friends with many of her fellow “KDs.”
“George was the glue that held our group together,” said Lyn Peck. “We were the wild children and she was the voice of reason.”
Routenburg agreed.
“George was a treasure to us,” she said. “The bond we had for 47 years is incredible. She was an amazing woman and we were fortunate to have her in our lives as long as we did.”
Known for her love of life and enduring friendships, Georgina Parks was also famous for the yearly Derby party she and Roger Parks hosted in the D.C. area for Kentucky ex-pats, neighbors and other close friends.
More recently, Georgina Parks was a devoted full time caregiver for her mother for 14 years.
“We will remember her for her unconditional friendship, beautiful smile and the joy we felt when we were with her,” Routenburg said. “After she was diagnosed with cancer last year, her faith, hope and love lived out so courageously before us.”
Georgina Parks is survived by her devoted husband Roger; her loving sister, Diane Ruley Williams (Ben) of San Diego, as well as a wide circle of friends and cousins from Virginia, her beloved Kentucky and throughout the country.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, Nov. 6 at the First Baptist Church of Alexandria, 2932 King Street, at 2:45 p.m. Following the service, family and friends are invited to a celebration honoring Georgina on the Cherry Blossom Riverboat at the Alexandria City Marina at 6 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the ACT for Alexandria Community Fund, 1421 Prince St., Suite 220, Alexandria, Va., 22314 or www.actforalexandria.org.
“Her mother Helen said it best,” Joni Carluzzo, another close friend recalled. “When I asked ‘what did you do right in raising her?’ she said ‘I didn’t do a thing. Georgina was just born good.’”