It is with our deepest sorrow that we inform you of the death of our beloved brother and uncle, Bill Parlee on April 1, 2022
He was 75 and living with his life partner Tony Patterson.
Born in West Haven CT, Bill was the son of Charles W. Parlee Sr. and Dorothea Gibbons.
In 1971, Bill and Tony quit their jobs with a national discount store and opened Bloomfield Aquarium, moved to East Hartford as Exotic Fin and Feather, and in 1994 they became Exotic SuperPet which at the time was the largest pet shop in Connecticut. They ran the business together for 48 years retiring in 2017. After retirement, Bill wrote about the Yankees and their history for Empire Sports Media. He had recently finished judging a National Finch and Softbill Society virtual bird show, an organization he founded in 1983. He also created the Connecticut Association for Aviculture and the New England Finch Fanciers. He was a certified bird judge for both finches and parrots for over 25 years.
Bill was also an avid photographer and cook.
When Bill became ill, Tony came to live with him permanently.
Bill was predeceased by his sister Alice (Parlee) Donlon and husband Roy Donlon of South Windsor, CT, niece Jenny (Parlee) Janiszewsky of Ohio, and nephew Partrick Parlee.
He is survived by his brother Deacon Charles Parlee Jr. and wife Glenda Parlee of Florida, nieces Jane Parlee of Kansas, Jamie (Parlee) Smith of Ohio, Kathy Donlon of CT, and nephews, Roy Donlon of MA, Steven Donlon of CT, Charles Parlee III of CT. and many grand nieces an nephews.
Per his request there are no calling hours, Donations may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.
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