Of Marlborough, passed away peacefully Sunday evening October 4th, 2015 in the Reservoir Center for Health & Rehabilitation in Marlborough at the age of 87.

Born on May 30, 1928 in Concord, New Hampshire; beloved son of Diego Parla and Maria (Colarusso) Parla, John was raised in Concord, New Hampshire and spent many years in Washington, D.C. before moving to Lincoln, Massachusetts.

John received his undergraduate degree from Boston College. He furthered his education with a Graduate degree from Harvard University and received his Master’s degree from the University of California at Berkley. His major areas of concentration were Mathematics, Mathematical Statistics, and Management.

After college John proudly served with the United States Army during the Korean War.

John had extensive experience in both the private sector and the Federal government. While employed by the Federal government John worked for the U.S. Department of Commerce in the Office of Secretary as Deputy Representative for the Secretary of Commerce in New England, with the Office of Telecommunications as Division Chief and with the National Telecommunications & Information Administration as Program Manager.

He identified key policy issues, evaluated alternative policies and recommended national policies to the administration relative to telecommunications and informational processing. He participated in writing national legislation. John dealt directly with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) and numerous state regulatory commissions. He defined regional needs as they impacted the industry in state and local governments as well as the general public. He participated in tariff and equipment selection negotiations internationally. John established a regional regulatory program for New England. He was a member of the National Committee on Electronic Mail, NARUC Sub-Committee on Communications and Separations, National Environmental Data Collection Committee and the Committee on Computer Communications Applications.

John was the liaison with the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) concerning policies and procuring services and equipment for the government.

His work in the private sector consisted of Group Manager for General Telephone & Electronics (GTE), Scientific Advisor for West German Ministry of Defense, Senior Analyst with MITRE Corporation, and Mathematical Engineer for Lockheed Missiles & Space Company.

In all his positions he initiated, developed, structured and coordinated programs in communications, information processing, business systems, new products and services, economic and financial analysis, corporate planning, remote sensing, cost efficiency, simulation, modeling and advanced design.

Highlights of some program elements were Voice and Data Communication networks, computer/communication applications, new techniques in market forecasting, corporate modeling, financial concepts for equipment selection and new product lines, advanced technologies applied to community needs, advanced warning and surveillance systems, data base development, satellite systems, and intelligence analysis.

John is survived by his loving and devoted sister Charlotte Parla of Marlborough, his sister-in-law Rena E. Parla of Weston, his cherished nephews John P. Parla of Chestnut Hill and Vincent R. Parla of Northampton, New Hampshire, and his dear friend Joseph O’Shea of Northborough.

Loving brother of the late Vincent R. Parla.
Relatives & Friends are respectfully invited to attend a Graveside Funeral Service with United States Army Military Honors in celebration of John’s Life at Saint Joseph’s Cemetery, 990 LaGrange Street in WEST ROXBURY on Saturday morning Oct. 17th at 11:00 a.m. A reception will follow the service in the Club Room of Building A at Avalon of Marlboro 5000 Timberview Way in Marlboro.

Expressions of sympathy may be made in John’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 8th Ave, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John Joseph Parla, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.