Uncle Tony

Everyone should know this man. His name is Tony Parco (aka Uncle Tony), and he unexpectedly passed away. He spent part of the summer moving himself and his mom to Iowa. To suddenly pass just as he settles into a new city with new opportunities is so unfair.

Tony is my wife’s Uncle, not by blood, but by being a close friend to the family for the past 40+ years. When I first met Tony, we quickly bonded over our love of comic books and movies. As time went on, we connected even closer. When my wife and I married, he walked her down the aisle. When we had kids, he would often visit, giving them rare STAR WARS toys they had no business having. He saw us twice a year when we moved to Austin, TX. It’s what he called his “vacation.”

Tony didn’t have internet where he lived in California, so his “vacation” consisted of holing up in our home theater room, binging on the shows and movies he missed between visits. Occasionally, he’d take a break and saunter downstairs (usually with a couple of empty bottles of Guinness), and we’d debate the merits of whatever he just finished. We’d argue late into the night about everything from the definition of a movie star to his hatred of Joe Carnahan’s THE GREY (crazy, I know!). I’m going to miss those conversations. I’ll miss hearing the boom of the speakers above late at night, knowing that Tony was happy and enjoying life.

I find solace that he saw our home as an escape from the daily grind, a chance to be with people who loved him unconditionally, who entertained his most random thoughts during the day, and who hunkered down with him to watch a show or movie at night. We’re all going to miss that.

My entire family mourns the loss of their dear Uncle Tony. I mourn the loss of my dear friend, Tony Parco.

Until we meet again, for now, “This is the way.”