Derek Parker

Derek Parker passed away peacefully at home in Tiburon on April 18, 2023, with his wife Nancy by his side and with a view of his beloved San Francisco Bay.

Derek was born in England in 1934 to John and Ada Parker. He was raised and educated in England, earning his architecture license in 1958. After traveling the world, he settled in San Francisco where he joined the architecture, planning, and design firm Anshen + Allen in 1960. In 1964, Derek assumed a leadership role at Anshen + Allen, which he held for close to five decades. Guiding the firm into a focus on healthcare and academic design, he led the design and planning of more than 50 hospitals and biomedical facilities in 15 countries and received more than 75 awards for his achievements. In 1990, Derek was part of a small group invited to a dinner with Prince Charles at Kensington Palace to discuss possible improvements in hospital design in the UK. This was a night to be remembered and quite an honor for a British architect from humble beginnings. He was a visionary and innovator and served as a mentor to many.

Derek met his wife Nancy in Marin County where they married and raised their two daughters, Sara and Amy. He was a lifelong learner, a watercolor artist, an avid sailor and a doting grandfather. He could often be found sailing with friends and family on San Francisco Bay aboard his boat, Talisman. He enjoyed special time with each of his granddaughters: sailing and playing chess with Caitlin and creating art and virtually traveling the world with Ayanna.

Derek was preceded in death by his parents and brother John Graham Parker. He is survived by his wife Nancy Patten Parker of Tiburon, daughter Sara Murdoch of Santa Barbara, daughter Amy Parker-Rihm and her husband Greg of Alameda, granddaughter Caitlin Murdoch of Santa Monica, granddaughter Ayanna Parker-Rihm of Alameda, and sister-in-law Dorothy Parker of England.

A private celebration of life will be held in Derek’s honor. Memorial donations may be made to By the Bay Health (bythebayhealth.org) and Marin Community Clinics (marinclinic.org).