Edward Parkhouse Jr

Edward (Ned) Demarest Parkhouse of Sag Harbor died on January 15 at the Hamptons Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing. Passionate in his lifelong love of music and the owner of Ned Parkhouse Classical Music in Sag Harbor, he was 85.

Mr. Parkhouse grew up on the “Stillwood” plantation on Liberty Bayou in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he graduated from Tulane University. Having fallen in love with classical music at the age of 9—to the chagrin of his parents, who, in harmony with their New Orleans surroundings, were lovers of the blues—he begged to learn to play piano. After much persistence and years of practice, he was accepted into the Manhattan School of Music.

Realizing that performance was not for him, he returned home to New Orleans where had worked as a classical music critic for a daily newspaper and attempted a career in film. He found better luck when he moved back to Manhattan to work as a freelance music critic for the Herald Tribune. Through his connections there, he advanced in a career as a chief 
copywriter and book publicist for Doubleday Publishing, retiring in 1979 and moving full time to his summer home in Sag Harbor.

To fill his idle time, he open Ned Parkhouse Inc. in 1986, stocking a few Mozart sonatas and other classics, out of his own ambition to find such music. After noticing a growing demand from the community, he began stocking more and in a matter of four years the store evolved into Ned Parkhouse Classical Music, an East End “must” destination according to survivors. In addition to the depth of his selection, which eventually included classical jazz and some blues, his customers also visited the store simply to seek his advice on the genre.

He loved to share his vast knowledge of music and his Southern wit and charm, and survivors said he will be long remembered by all who knew him as a true gentleman.

An avid lover of classical music and a musician to the end, Mr. Parkhouse composed and released two albums of piano music while in his 80s.

He is survived by a brother, William Parkhouse of Texas, and a sister, Virginia Parkhouse of Florida.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, April 25, at 11 a.m. at Oakland Cemetery in Sag Harbor, with a reception to follow in North Haven. In lieu of flowers, donations to a charity of choice would be appreciated by the family.