Parsons, Alonzo Ritter "Lon" Died peacefully with family by his side on February 3, 2016, at Carmel Valley Manor in Carmel, California. A man of great spiritual integrity, he hoped to be remembered as a loving husband, father, and partner. "I tried to be kind and compassionate to all sentient beings, to help those in need, to support the common good and actions to bring justice and peace in the world." Lon was born on March 9, 1923, in Philadelphia, PA to Elizabeth MacAllister and Alonzo Jacob Parsons. He grew up in Haddonfield, NJ and Fairfield, CT. Lon entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1941, volunteered for the US Navy for four years and graduated from Penn with an AB in math. Lon married Joan Albrecht in 1946, and they shared 56 wonderful years together raising three daughters in New Jersey and Minnesota. Lon had a 36-year career with Honeywell, Inc. in sales and marketing, and later on corporate staff. In 1961, he was elected the Instrument Society Eastern Regional Vice President and served as president of the Instrument Society of America in 1967, one of the highlights of his professional life. His work on international standards development (1977-1984) took him to cities throughout Europe, and to China. Lon retired from Honeywell in 1983 and went to work for the United Way of Minneapolis Area as a fund raiser, a "life changing experience" and the favorite job of his long career. While living in Edina, Lon joined the Colonial Church of Edina and later Plymouth Congregational Church. He volunteered at the African American Institute, and the Division of Indian Work of the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches. Lon was a lifelong seeker. In the early 1950's he listened to Alan Watts on the radio and read Thomas Merton. He first heard Thich Nhat Hahn speak at the University of Minnesota in 1967. Lon was a student of Zen and in 1991, he received lay ordination from a priest in the lineage of Katagiri Roshi of the Minnesota Zen Center. The Japanese name he received, "Taijo", means solid, steadfastness. He found spiritual fulfillment in all of these experiences. In 1994, he retired from United Way and moved to Carmel, CA. Lon was a docent at the Point Lobos State Reserve for eleven years. He continued his spiritual development with the Monterey Bay Zen Center. He and Joan established many ties in the community. Joan died in 2002 after a long illness. In 2003, Lon began a friendship with Jane Langhorne which became a partnership that would last until her death in 2014. In 2007, Lon and Jane moved to Carmel Valley Manor where they enjoyed frequent trips to Sun Valley and Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, as well as to Scotland. Lon is survived by his daughters, Jody Parsons (Richard Wong) of Carmel, CA, Susan Parsons (Angus Baker) of Mt. Pleasant, SC, and Julie Meineke (Steve) of Lake Oswego, OR; four grandchildren: Jamey Tinkey (Adrian Broome), Nisa Meineke, Lee Baker (Michele Dwyre), Sarah Baker Thomas (Dave) and a sister, Sara Parsons Kenney, of Fairfield, CT. Lon left a gentle footprint in this world, and will be remembered for his kindness, compassion, loyalty and dedication to family and those vulnerable in this rapidly changing world. A celebration of his life will be held on March 5, 2016, at 3 PM at the Hillcrest Library at Carmel Valley Manor. If desired, memorial gifts may be given to the Thich Nhat Hahn Foundation, 2499 Melru Lane, Escondido, CA 92026, thichnhathanhfoundation.org Condolences may be sent to the Parsons family, 25608 Carmel Knolls Drive, Carmel, CA 93923.