Richard Watson Parker, 65, of Washington, D.C. died suddenly on Sunday, October 3, 2021. He was the loving father of Claire Parker and Ellida Parker of Washington, D.C.; beloved husband of Edith Cecil of Washington, D.C.; Professor of Law at the University of Connecticut; and passionate advocate for environmental regulation. Richard Watson Parker was born in Dallas, Texas, to George Parker and Ann Sadler Parker. He grew up in Edinburg, Texas, just north of the Mexican border, where he attended public schools. In 1978, he received a B.A. degree in Politics from Princeton University and was elected as a Rhodes Scholar. He received a D. Phil. in Politics from Oxford University in 1982 and a J.D. degree from Yale University in 1985. He worked at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Environmental Protection Agency and the law firm of O’Melveny and Myers prior to his appointment in 1995 as Professor of Law at the University of Connecticut, where he taught and wrote in the fields of environmental law and administrative law. He served as consultant to several national and international organizations, including the European Commission on the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership talks, and participated in the work of the American Bar Association, most recently as Chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee in the Section on Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice. His areas of expertise included negotiated rulemaking, regulatory cooperation and the use of trade leverage to advance environmental goals. Richard was a man of varied interests who thrived in long discussions of politics and policy. He loved tennis, long hikes in the mountains, bike rides in Rock Creek Park and sitting on the front porch with friends and family telling stories and soaking in the world around him. Most importantly, Richard was a devoted, present and loving father and husband. He was always someone his friends and family could count on for support, counsel and a good laugh. He will be greatly missed. Survivors include his daughters, Claire Parker and Ellida Parker; his wife, Edith Cecil; his stepdaughter, Eloise Stancioff; his brother Daniel Parker and sister-in-law Julie, sisters Genny Abbott and Peggy Parker and brother-in-law Kurt Abbott; his ex-wife, Sarah McNamer; members of the Parker, McNamer, and Cecil families; and his friends, colleagues, and students. There will be a private memorial service. In lieu of flowers, please consider sending a donation to the Natural Resources Defense Council. Condolences can be sent to richardparkercondolences@gmail.com.