Thomas “Tom” Charles Parker, loving husband, father, grandfather and brother, left this world peacefully at home on Feb. 17, 2025, surrounded by family after a four-year battle with brain cancer.

Born April 1, 1947 to Jack Parker, a local butcher, and Elizabeth Parker, cultural arts director of the Santa Barbara Parks & Rec Department, Tom was a proud third generation Santa Barbaran.

He grew up on Santa Barbara’s Eastside and attended Franklin Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School, Santa Barbara Junior High School, and Santa Barbara High School. 

Tom went to Cal Lutheran University on a football scholarship, where he completed both his undergraduate and MBA degrees. After graduating, he worked at Cabrillo Junior High School as a teacher to gifted students.

He married Susan (Sue) Struck, and together they raised their sons Jess and Chris. Tom left teaching to explore his entrepreneurial side and began to invest in local real estate.

In the early 1980s, Sue’s aunt Betty Hutton asked Tom to “look over” her business investments and operations.

Tom was appointed president of Hutton Company. He oversaw the company’s portfolio, developed a number of business parks, and successfully repositioned a number of underperforming assets.

Upon Betty’s passing, Tom was also named CEO of the Hutton Foundation (later know as Hutton Parker Foundation).

Tom led this private family foundation for more than 25 years. During that time, assets in the foundation grew from $50 million to nearly $130 million, while also donating $100 million to nonprofits.

It was Tom’s alternative approach and vast knowledge of real estate that set him apart. His creative partnerships and profound relationships to so many nonprofit groups will forever leave a mark on our community, as is evidenced by the countless philanthropic awards from the community including Man of the Year in 2020.

Tom married Karla Blackwell in 2018. Together they traveled frequently and enjoyed all life has to offer. They explored Mexico, Italy, France, Croatia, and a number of places in the Caribbean Islands, somewhere that was always very special to Tom, including Turks & Caicos and St. Barth. They shared amazing times with many wonderful friends.

Tom was an avid sailor and surfer. His passion of racing sailboats began at age 7 in the Santa Barbara Harbor. He owned countless boats and raced many of them all over Southern California.

Tom was a lifelong member of the Santa Barbara Yacht Club, a place where epic friendships, adventures and memories were made both on and off the water.

Tom is survived by wife Karla Parker; sons, Jess and Chris and their wives Robyn and Marisa; grandchildren Paisley, 9, Skye, 6, Jack, 4, and Lilly, 2; sister Becky Pusateri; former wife Susan Parker; and many other family members.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a local charity that speaks to your heart.