Family and Friends Reflect on the Life of Thelma Parks

Thelma Parks had a love affair with Santa Monica. For 23 years, she served as a travel counselor for the , greeting visitors every day and sharing with them her wealth of information about the city. Parks was a true ambassador of Santa Monica, making sure that tourists felt welcome here.

Last month, Parks died at She was 97—a number that came as a surprise to her colleagues.

They didn't know "that she was actually a tireless 90-plus-year-old, instead of the younger '70-plus' she passed for," said her daughter, Adrienne Parks. "In her generation, a lady never told her age."

According to Adrienne, there was another reason her mother didn't reveal how old she was: When she applied to work at the visitors center, she thought she wouldn't be hired because of her senior status. "So she subtracted 10 years, applied—and got the job," Adrienne says.

Part of the reason Thelma was so compatible with tourists in Santa Monica was that she used to be one herself. She was born in Brisbane, Australia, and spent the first 18 years of her life living by the waterfront on Kangaroo Point, a small part of the city.

"Watching the steamers, merchant vessels and sailboats parsing their way up the Brisbane River instilled in her a closeness with the water," Adrienne said.

The Brisbane runs into the Pacific Ocean, the same body of water that the visitors center kiosk faces. "All she had to do was turn around [and] she could imagine exactly where Kangaroo Point was," Adrienne said.

In 1944, during World War II, Thelma met Harold Parks, a bombardier with the Army-Air Corps. They married the same year, and in 1945, Thelma left Australia for America. She arrived in Washington, D.C., on the SS Lurline, the first ship to carry Australian War Brides to the U.S.

"Another reason she [loved] to help tourists was that ... the U.S. Red Cross held a mandatory Brides School for all of the Australian women who had married American servicemen," Adrienne said. "She learned so much about our country at these classes ... she learned early on that being a traveler was not accomplished easily."

After spending time in D.C. and Florida, Thelma and Harold settled in Santa Monica in 1985, so they could be closer to Adrienne.

Over the years, Thelma—who, for a short time, also served as a concierge at the —met countless visitors. "She loved the fact that the Center had given them classes in basic foreign-language communication skills," Adrienne said. "My mother delighted in being able to greet many visitors to the City of Santa Monica in their native language. Of course, she always listened for the comforting sound of a fellow Aussie—and always thought that Santa Monica and Brisbane should become sister cities because they had so much in common."

To Thelma, every visitor was a VIP, and no question was too trivial, Adrienne says. "If there was a line of tourists waiting for answers, my mother didn't close the kiosk until everyone had been helped. She knew the bus lines by heart and would help a tourist who was traveling 'on the cheap' with exact directions."

"Thelma was a walking encyclopedia of what Santa Monica has to offer, and enthusiastically offered her opinion and knowledge to those lucky enough to accept it,” said Misti Kerns, CEO of the SMCVB.

Thelma—who continued reporting for tourist duties until the day before she died—supported local merchants by recommending places like , the and the .

"She just loved to help her fellow travelers in their quest for a perfect Santa Monica adventure—be it a dinner, drinks, sun, beach, celebrity, history or unadorned love for the great, pulsing energy of Santa Monica," Adrienne said. "She reminded her guests of parking-meter hours, ongoing theater productions and current films, art galleries, the best place to watch the sunset, enjoy fresh oysters and where to park at the pier."

David Goodwin—Thelma's second cousin—has first-hand knowledge of her penchant for helping tourists find their way around town. In the summer of 2009, when he and his wife, Mary, visited Santa Monica, "Thelma was more than willing to provide exact step-by-step instructions," he said. "Her assistance was also wonderful in ensuring that tourists got the best bang for their buck, with tips on discounts and concessions, and places and times to visit."

But despite the tireless hours she logged at the visitors center, Thelma did had a life outside the kiosk.

"In the decade since we were co-workers, we’ve been friends," said Christine Thomas, director of operations at Striker Media Group. "Her social calendar was always quite full, and she would often invite me to accompany her to gallery openings, concierge events or [a] movie.

"What always struck me about Thelma was her amazing outlook on life," Thomas continued. "She never failed to appreciate her family, her friends, her co-workers. She was a wonderful card-writer. Every birthday, anniversary or holiday, I could expect to receive a card from Thelma. And not just a card, but a few lines thoughtfully penned that were personal, funny and touching. Who does that anymore?"

In honor of Thelma, the Santa Monica Convention and Visitors Bureau has created the Thelma Parks Customer
 Service Award, which recognizes local hospitality-industry personnel for their spirit and excellent customer service.

The plaque for the award was unveiled at the visitors information kiosk during a recent ceremony attended by family and friends, including Mayor Richard Bloom. Nominations for the award will begin at the Santa Monica Tourism Summit in May.

Whoever wins the award, they will have a hard time measuring up to the individual for whom it is named.

"My mother loved Santa Monica as she loved the city of her birth," Adrienne said. "She wore the logo'd Santa Monica parkas, sweatshirts and tees with great pride. While I'm sure I do not offer an unbiased view of my mother, I do know that her heart belonged to Santa Monica. And, that, forever she will be keeping a watchful eye out for those fellow traveling spirits. Without realizing it, she has become part of the city's great history. And I am so very proud of her."

In lieu of flowers, Thelma's family has asked for non-taxable donations to be made in her name to
: Retrievers and Friends of Southern California, Inc.
, P.O. 
Box 1822, Temecula, CA 92593.