R.I.P. Parker Clack, founder of Home Theater Forum (5 Viewers)

[Ronald Epstein]

Parker Clack passed away at age 68 on March 8, 2025

https://www.millardfamilychapels.com/obituaries/Parker-D-Clack?obId=39746431

This news came as a complete surprise to me, just like it has to all of you. I didn’t learn about his passing until earlier today. I need to thank HTF member @LDfan for bringing it to my attention. He was merely looking up old acquaintances from HTF and stumbled upon Parker's obituary.

The last time I spoke with Parker was on the phone in November, shortly after the passing of his wife, Susan. At that time, he didn’t sound like he was in good health. If I had been more attentive to the conversation and the things he was saying, I would have realized that it would be our last.

It’s heartbreaking, and the fact that it took two months for us to receive the news is truly disheartening.

I find myself in the position of having to deliver this news to all of you, and quite frankly, I suck at these kind of things, but allow me to speak from the heart...

Parker Clack was the most important person to ever come into my life.

I met him on one of the early online services where I created a chat room devoted to Home Theater. He and I immediately became friends. A year later, around 1995, when the Internet came to fruition, he told me he could put our little group on the Internet. While some could say I was the "face" of Home Theater Forum, Parker's exceptional skills were solely responsible for putting Home Theater Forum on the map. For the decade that followed, Parker worked behind the scenes, maintaining our server and keeping us afloat.

Home Theater Forum was our passion. We dedicated ourselves to its growth, sharing many hotel rooms while attending consumer electronics conventions and meeting industry people. Those years were filled with countless joyful moments. Parker was the best partner I could have ever asked for. I cherished him deeply. He was highly intelligent, incredibly kind, forever optimistic, and had a great sense of humor.

I wish I could revisit our last conversation and express my sincere gratitude to Parker for all he has done for this forum and me personally. I wouldn’t be here without him. I would have loved to tell him how much I love him. All I can say now is that he will be deeply missed.




I raced to locate some photos of Parker, only to discover old CDs that would no longer be recognized by my drive. I managed to pull a few photos from the fire:



Parker sitting on the Forrest Gump bench at Paramount Studios, early 2000s


Parker at the Scootapalooza event in NJ


Relaxing together on the HTF Cruise


Robert Fowkes, Bill Hunt, Parker Clack


Parker at the Paramount Studio Gate, early 2000s

 

[Robert Crawford]

A very sad day for me personally. Parker was a good person. May he R.I.P.

 

[Peter Apruzzese]

RIP, Parker.

 

[battlebeast]

I never knew him, but he impacted my life in immeasurable ways.

Without the forum, I wouldnt have known about many of the Discs I’ve needed for my collection.

I owe him and the other creators of this site a debt of gratitude I can never repay.

RIP sir, you’ve touched me without knowing it. Thank you.

 

[Jeffrey D]

I share battlebeast’s sentiments- this site has given me many hours of pleasure, and education. RIP, Parker.

 

[Walter Kittel]

R.I.P. Parker. As always, condolences to friends and family.

- Walter.

 

[dpippel]

Sad news indeed. A debt of gratitude for everything you did for this community, Parker, one that still thrives today and is where I spend most of my online time. Without your vision and Ron's, HTF wouldn't exist. Thank you, sir. I hope you are at peace, and peace to your family, friends, and loved ones as well.

 

[Sam Posten]

Damn, the end of an era. Very nice tribute Ron. I will miss him but am thankful for the community you two built for us

 

[John Dirk]

@Ronald Epstein , over the years I've known Parker by name only but your comments here add valuable context. I do remember when his wife, Susan, passed in 2024 and am tremendously saddened to hear today he has also left us.

I feel terrible I never got to know Parker better or took the time to thank him for co-creating this wonderful forum, which has grown into something I'm sure he's now looking down on with pleasure.

RIP - Parker & thanks so much for your vision and dedication over the years

 

[Mike Frezon]

Oh no.

What to say about a man I've never met. Someone I've never even spoken with by phone. Yet someone who I became close to...even though separated by hundreds of miles. We shared many interests--especially the love for our families. It is sad to realize that Parker's wife Susan had just passed in November...a few months before Parker's passing.

Based on our exchanges over the past twenty years, it was easy to learn that Parker was a man with a love for life and a big heart. We also shared similar stories of health issues--some of which had become quite serious for him over the last five years.

This announcement makes me sad that I never attended one of the famed HTF Meets and was unable to attend the last Scooterpalooza (I was thisclose!). But it makes me especially sad that I will not again be in contact with this nice man from the midwest.

Ron: I am so sorry for the loss you must be feeling with the passing of Parker. It's still hard for me to think of one of the two of you without also thinking of the other. I also think often of our meet-up at the funeral for RAF in Ossining all those years ago (14 years! Wow!). I wonder if Parker's family will be creating a GoFundMe page as they did with Susan's passing to help cover the costs connected with the passing?

 

[Bob Furmanek]

Ron, that is a beautifully written remembrance and tribute to your dear friend.

My heartfelt condolences on his passing.

May he rest in peace.

 

[John Maher_289910]

I'm sorry for the loss of all those who loved and admired him. God bless!

 

[Malcolm R]

Very sad. Parker and Ron created a wonderful community here, a treasure trove of information and civil discussion, that is a continuing tribute to the founders. RIP, Parker.

 

[Matt Hough]

Wonderful remembrance, Ron. Very sorry to read of his passing. R.I.P.

 

[Mysto]

HTF has been a part of my life since I joined in 2018. Parker and you Ron, created a good thing. He will live on in the pleasure this site has given to me and so many others,
RIP

 

[Robert Harris]

A total shock. Thank you Ron for sharing. I only knew Parker slightly, in the early days of HTF.

Always a passionate, kind gentleman.

My condolences to friends and family.

WAY too young.

 

[pitchman]

This is sad news. Like many others, I did not personally know Parker, but I did have the opportunity to exchange a few messages with him on the board. And, I am very thankful for that. He left his indelible stamp on HTF and through Parker and Ron's vision and dedication, thousands of home video enthusiasts found a safe haven to meet with other like-minded souls. Decades later, it is still going strong. RIP Parker, and thank you for helping to make HTF such an amazing place!

 

[RMajidi]

Ron, for someone who thinks he sucks at these kind of things, you wrote a beautiful tribute.

So sorry you didn’t find the space to express these thoughts and feelings to your friend directly; but I believe he will be only too aware of them now (and doubtless he already was… love shows).

Allow me to add my condolences and deep gratitude for what you both set in motion and built up. Clearly, you have affected many people across the planet in a most positive way.

 

[bujaki]

Condolences to Ron and all who knew Parker personally or remotely via the HTF. What a legacy he left us! RIP

 

[Josh Steinberg]

I don’t want to say how young I was when I discovered HTF, but for someone like me who grew up loving films of all kinds, especially ones from before I was born, this place was like an oasis in the dessert of a film school education that provided surprisingly little insight into classic film. In many ways, I learned more here than there, and to be embraced by such a knowledgeable group at such a young age, and to finally have people to chat with about things like aspect ratios and proper presentations gave me an outlet that no one else could offer. I think I’ve been here more than half my life, and I am grateful that I get to live in the house Parker helped build. It’s been one of the great honors of my life to have been invited to write reviews here.

Like so many others here, I never met Parker in person, but in this age of internet communication, not living in the same place no longer has to mean not knowing someone. I’m grateful that our paths crossed, and grateful for all the other friends I’ve made here over the years - you have all enriched my lives immeasurably, and I hope I’ve been able to return the favor in some small way.

Rest in peace, old friend. I’d like to believe that he and Susan are enjoying each other’s company while catching up on a backlog of movies.

P.S. Ron, what you wrote was beautiful and a fitting tribute. I can only hope for words as eloquent to be pointed in my direction when my time has come.