Sidney Parham III

Sidney (Sid) Feild Parham, III passed away on March 4, 2024, at Cottagewood Senior Communities in Rochester, MN from Parkinson's Disease. He was born on November 19, 1943 in Gulfport, Mississippi to Sidney Feild Parham, Jr. and Lousie White Barton Parham.

Sid was raised in Roanoke, Virginia and graduated from Patrick Henry High School in 1962. He went on to receive a bachelor's degree in English from Washington and Lee University, a master's degree in English from University of Virginia, and a Ph.D. in Drama from Tufts University. He also spent time in the Peace Corps, serving in Botswana in Southern Africa.

He married Judy Foster in 1969 and had two daughters. They later divorced. He then married Rita Argiros on May 31, 1996.

Sid was a Professor of English at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota from 1979-2000. While living in St. Cloud he enjoyed participating in local theater and performed in and directed several shows. In 2000, Sidney moved to Hancock, New York where he served as Academic Vice- President at the Family Foundation School. After the death of his wife in 2015, he moved to Rochester, MN to be closer to his daughters.

Sid was an avid reader, a storyteller and educator. He enjoyed theater both as a performer, director and patron. Cooking, golf, tai chi, writing and encouraging new young performers filled his later years and brought joy. With his wife he enjoyed search and rescue training of their 2 dogs and the companionship they brought.

He is survived by daughters Sarah Lichty and Maggie (Tim) Cichosz, step-son Alex (Shari) Carroll, sister Joan (Larry Hammond) Parham, and his granddaughters Sydney and Avery Lichty and Beatrix and Wilhelmina Cichosz. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and brother John Parham.

A celebration of life will be planned at a later date in New York. The family has requested that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Parham family. To share a special memory or condolence, please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com