ANTHONY ‘Tony’ Parry, retired broadcaster from the RJR Communications Group and former host of programmes the Rock House and Sunday Contact, was on last Thursday remembered as a loving father and a respectful man with a golden voice for radio.

Parry, who served in local broadcasting for over 20 years, died on July 1. He was 76 years old and was living at Faydene Methodist Nursing Home before his death.

The memorial service celebrating his life was held at the Temple of Light Centre for Spiritual Living at Fairway Avenue in Kingston.

Veteran broadcaster Norma Brown-Bell, offered a tribute on behalf of RJR.

Brown-Bell, recalled that the icon of broadcasting was gifted with a golden voice.

“Today, we gather to say farewell to a former broadcaster, Anthony Parry. I have had the opportunity to speak with many of our colleagues, and this was what some had to say of him… ‘Tony touched many people’s lives. He was of good cheer. He and his subordinates got on as a happy family’,” Brown-Bell said.

She also said Parry was well-loved and cherished by members of the public who listened to the programmes he hosted before his retirement.

Parry’s daughter, Marsha Parry-Folks, remembered her father as a man who made her popular once she was identified with his work.

Her tribute was read by Marlene Dilworth.

“He was a lover of records and the house was always filled with records. Because of his job as a broadcaster, I got many requests from teachers and friends for broadcasts of their birthday on the air. I thank him for loving my brother and I. We will always embrace in our hearts the love he has given to us,” Dilworth said on Parry-Folks’ behalf.

Reverend Ann Shand from the Temple of Light Centre for Spiritual Living, where Parry worshipped with his mother Cynthia Parry, remembered him as a man with a positive outlook on life.

“We had good times with Tony. He was a part of our choir and sang with us. His mother was a practitioner and you could understand who he was because of his mother. He was a man of strong opinion with his philosophy of life. He kept abreast of the world outside of the home. He was truly a gentle soul. He had a golden voice which will never be forgotten,” she said.

Elizabeth Terry and Steve Golding offered musical tributes with renditions of the songs, Ave Maria and Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World respectively.

Parry’s remains will be cremated at a later date.