Thomas Edwin Parkins

Tom Parkins died on the last day of 2017.  Tom was a Sandpoint native, born here on July 20, 1953. 

Tom's parents, Eddie and Janet Parkins, were also Sandpoint natives who spent their lives here raising 5 children.  During their childhoods Tom, who was the youngest, and his four siblings, Patty McGovern, Mike Parkins, Cathy Parkins and Jack Parkins, were highly visible and popular and helped make Sandpoint the great place it was for the generation growing up here in the 1950s and 60s.  Tom graduated from Sandpoint High School and the University of Idaho. 

After college Tom moved to San Francisco and began his career with Chevron Oil Company.  Tom started at Chevron as a temp messenger but his intelligence, wit, ambition and winning personality enabled him to quickly rise in the ranks.  Tom became the Executive Director of Chevron's Educational and Charitable Grant Programs; he developed and was responsible for programs under which Chevron donated millions of dollars to worthy causes.  Tom was the creator of Chevron's "People Do" campaign and was early in alerting  Chevron to the dangers of climate change.  During his 25 years with Chevron, Tom traveled all over the United States and Europe, but his favorite destination was the south of France and he spent much time there. Tom retired from Chevron at age 48 and moved to his second home in the California wine country; there he met Stan Birnbaum, who has been his partner for 16 years.  In 2009, Tom and Stan moved to Sandpoint to enjoy life in North Idaho and to enable Tom to return to his roots.

Tom is survived by his partner Stan, his step daughter Charlotte Birnbaum, his four siblings Patty, Mike, Cathy, and Jack and many nieces and nephews. 

Tom will be greatly missed by everyone whose life he touched.

A memorial for Tom is planned for this spring.