Victoria Parks

Victoria Parks, also known as Vic, (Queen) Victrola, Vicki and the Viconator crossed over into the "Crystal City" as she called it on Friday May 10, 2024 at 11:11pm. She was 70 years old, born on March 25, 1954 to John Morris Parks and Martha (MacElhose) Parks in Summit, New Jersey at The Overlook hospital. Victoria was survived by brother Daniel Parks of Washington state, his son Joshua Parks, 27, and his daughter Caitlin Parks, 26. She was also survived by family (though not by blood), Kelly Bowman and Isabella Whitt. There were those who were near her that were helping hands and words: James Burke, Tim Chavez, Kitt Lockett, Madeline Pfister and Lily Lightbridge. Their help and kindness was appreciated while she was nearing the end of her journey. Victoria attended Kent State University where she earned her bachelors in 1980. Later she attended the Ohio Institute of Energetic Studies and Bodywork under Mary Jo Ruggieri. She became a practitioner, then went on to get an instructor’s degree. Victoria sang with a guitar since the age of fifteen. She hit the Cleveland folk scene in 1974. Her songs were unique, beautiful and funny. She drew her song material from simple emotion, life experience, or crazy news. You just never know what she’d conjure up under that wildly curly head of hair. It could be a beautiful ballad or just plain hilarious. Well-known in the city as a songwriter and folk singer, Victoria was also a talented artist, poet, writer, community activist and election integrity advocate. “Victrola,” her radio nom de guerre, was one of the founders and the original program manager of the local community radio station WGRN 91.9FM. She was syndicated with Pacifica Radio and produced 260 episodes of her radio shows “Morning Song” and 174 episodes of “Folk Soup,” all themed shows and wonderfully produced.Victoria’s volunteer work in the community included singing and emcee-ing on stage many times at ComFest and organizing a citizen exit poll as a voting rights activist. The Free Press honored Victoria with the Free Press Arts and Activism Award in 2009. Etched upon it is a quote of hers: "Great art is inherently subversive." She was also an honoree in the 2005 Great American Song Contest; a category winner in the 15th Annual Mid Atlantic Contest Category Winner (humorous); a 2002 Florida Folk Festival Song Contest performer; Napa Valley Folk Festival song contest winner. She has released three albums Sure Feels Like Home (1995), Wild English Rose (2003), and Duhmocracy (2007). Wild English Rose landed #35 in the 2003 Folk DJ top 200 folk albums of 2003. Duhmocracy was nominated “best political album” at the 2009 Just Plain Folks Awards, while her song “Blame the Cows” garnered a “best political song” nomination. Her friend Connie Everett remembers her as a giver and very spiritually inclined. She left us on the first night of the Aurora Borealis. She planned it that way. Hail Victrola! Join friends and family at a memorial service for Victoria Sunday, July 28 from 1:00-6:00pm at Zacateca's Grill at 1175 Worthington Woods Blvd, Worthington, OH 43085. There will also be a tribute to Victoria at Community Festival on Friday, June 28 on the Gazebo stage at 3pm with the song, "Heaven".

Victoria Parks

March 25, 1954 - May 10, 2024