With sadness, we share the news of the passing of Parker Symmes at the age of 96. Parker was a founding partner in 1955 of Vappi Symmes and Maini, which soon after became Symmes Maini & McKee Associates (now SMMA). 

“Parker was an exceptional mechanical engineer with notable accomplishments,” said Ara Krafian, CEO and President of SMMA. “He had an outstanding gift to communicate complex engineering solutions in simple terms for the rest of us to grasp.

“Parker loved working on projects and serving clients. He set the foundations of our client-centric approach and how our leadership engages in business relationships today.” 

Born in Winchester, MA in 1926, Parker graduated from Winchester High School and went straight to MIT in 1943. After short spells in the Navy and Air Force, he returned to MIT and graduated in 1947 with a degree in aeronautical engineering. Parker then cut his teeth at several Boston engineering firms, becoming an expert in HVAC design. 

Parker served as a mentor to countless young engineers at SMMA and was instrumental in establishing the firm’s mentorship culture. Mark O’Brien, Chief Mechanical Engineer at SMMA, worked with Parker on several projects and remembers his “effortless” mastery of mechanical design and “love and passion for what he did.” 

Above all, Parker’s humility, compassion, and respect for his colleagues continues to serve as inspiration to new generations of leaders at SMMA. “He established a lasting culture of caring for one another at our firm,” added Krafian. “His legacy is seen in how we run the firm evenhandedly across services and markets, with respect for our colleagues and our clients.”  

Parker continued to work and visit the office until the early 2000’s. In 2017, we again had the pleasure of his company when he came in to help us compile a detailed history of SMMA. 

A wonderful obituary for Parker can be read on the website of Concord Funeral Home.