Former Alexandria Registrar Tom Parkins, second from right, died April 11 at the age of 70. He retired from his position at the end of 2013 and is pictured at his farewell reception at Port City Brewing Company on Dec. 12, 2013. Photo by Shari Bolouri
Thomas M. Parkins, of Millville, DE, Alexandria, VA, Des Moines and Winterset, IA passed away on April 11, after a brief illness, eight days after celebrating his 70th birthday. Tom led a rich life blessed with family, friends, Democratic politics, golf, the Iowa Hawkeyes, Baltimore Orioles, and the Tony Kornheiser Show. Golf was his passion and he could often be spotted on the course sporting his signature black and gold Iowa Hawkeyes golf bag.
He was a member of the Bishop’s Landing (DE) “Dream Team” who won the group golf tournament last October. He loved the monologues of late-night talk show comedians, Mel Brooks movies, and authentic journalism. As charming as he was humble, Tom had a great laugh, wonderful sense of humor, razor-sharp wit with a comic’s timing, and loved to entertain people with his spoonerisms and funny walks. He believed passionately in social justice, and that fruit should never be put in a salad.
Tom was born in Des Moines but spent a memorable childhood in Winterset, Iowa. Tom and his family later moved to Urbandale, Iowa where he graduated from Urbandale High School. He attended Grand View University before enlisting in the U. S. Army on April 4, 1969. Parkins spent 19 months fighting the war in Vietnam in the 11th Armored Cavalry - Blackhorse, before returning home Nov. 6, 1970. Tom returned to Grand View College but didn’t graduate. He referred to himself as a “20-year college senior” when he finally completed his BA degree at Drake University in December 1989.
Tom loved democracy, history, and revered the Constitution of the United States. He worked on numerous national, state, and local democratic campaigns, while becoming an expert on election organizing. After serving as president of AFSCME Local 1868, he was elected Chair of the Polk County Iowa Democrats from 1981-1982. In 1987 Tom was elected Polk County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections and served nearly ten years. Among his achievements there, Tom helped to change legislation so that early voting could be expanded in Iowa through satellite voting sites prior to Election Day.
After his wife, Judy Parkins, accepted a position in Alexandria, Va., Tom joined her after completing his elected term. He became Senior Election Consultant with The International Foundation of Election Systems, working in the Balkans including post-war Bosnia and former Soviet Union.
Upon returning to Alexandria, he was appointed Registrar of Voters and Elections for the City of Alexandria. During that time he implemented the national Voter Registration Act, bringing “motor-voter” registration to Alexandria, making registration more convenient for all residents; the Help America Vote Act which systemized provisional voting and made voting equipment more accessible; and the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, which made it easier for residents who are serving in the military or living overseas to register and vote absentee.
Shortly after his retirement in 2014, Tom and Judy moved to the Bethany Beach, DE area where he enjoyed his time golfing, entertaining grandchildren, and traveling in the US, Canada and Europe. He was an active member in good standing in several 12-step groups.
Tom leaves his wife, Judy Parkins of Millville, DE; mother, Shirley Parkins of Winterset, Iowa; two daughters from his first marriage to Patty Iogha, Casie Parkins of Washington, DC and Kelly Grunhovd of Northwood, Iowa; Kelly’s husband Andy and grandchildren Andrew 13, Jackson 11, and Avery 8; and two children from his marriage to Judy, daughter Lisa Connor, her husband Ashford, and grandsons Traa 17, and Marley 13; and son, Marc Fitzgibbon of Alexandria. He also leaves behind the best dog he ever had, Bailey. Tom is survived by many other aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. His father, Dale Parkins, and his sister, Susan Parkins, predeceased him.
A celebration of life will be scheduled in the future when family and friends can gather.