Nicolas Parker Isnard

Nicolas Parker Isnard passed away in his home the third week of January, 2024. He was only 38 years old, but he leaves behind a legacy of love and compassion befitting of a man who lived to more than twice that age. Nicolas did not marry nor have children. He is survived by his loving parents, Carole and Cyril, as well as his two younger brothers, Julien and Philippe, his beloved niece, Ellis, and his tenacious grandmother, Ruth Parker. He also leaves behind an extended and loving family in America and France. His family is deeply saddened and shocked by his sudden death.

He was born in San Francisco, California on September 12th, 1985 to become the eldest of three brothers and to proudly carry names of his mother’s and father’s ancestors. He was a selfless man who never left another feeling ill will towards him. From the moment his siblings were born, he strove to nurture them, to protect them, and to take that title of older brother as seriously as any man ever has. With equal breaths as those he used to give support and encouragement to his brothers, he also put himself second to heal the pains of his parents.

He moved with his family to Paris, France when he was only a few years old and adapted quickly to the culture. He returned often, as recently as the year before he passed, to visit his father’s family, and whenever he returned, he would call his brothers and parents with unbounded joyfulness to share stories of enjoying all of his childhood favorite foods: jambon beurre sandwiches, a good pain au chocolat, and a simple galette complète. All of these simple pleasures reminded him of the lunches he would bring to elementary school and the dinners his aunts would make during his summer visits to Normandy.

When he moved back to America with his family in fifth grade to live close to his grandmother, Ruth Parker, in Dallas, Texas, he once again found new means of appreciating the simple and the beautiful. He took up cross country and played the flute, just as his mother had. He was not shy about being the French transplant interested in learning to dance and developing his appreciation for the underappreciated foundations of music and sound.

When his family moved back to California during his high school years, he was almost back home. Returning from school to be surrounded by the quiet of the Santa Cruz mountains and looking up at the centuries-old redwoods around his family home, he spent his days and nights finding his own sound. He would scour through the aisles of used record stores and explored digital music production as well, experimenting with analog and digital synthesizers from every era they were produced, but it was always about the moment rather than a product. He loved the process and rarely worried about recording a song or gaining fame. It was his own journey, which few were lucky enough to be invited to share.

With the rhythmic clicking coming from the other room, his family would constantly be reminded of the joys he found in the use and building of mechanical keyboards, a joy he will leave them always tearfully reminiscing upon as he leaves behind an incredible collection. He also had a passion for antique arcade games and the culture of pinball.

When he and his mother returned to the city of his birth, his light was reborn, and he would spend countless calls and conversations celebrating the beauty of San Francisco, the perfect location of his apartment, and the pleasure of being back in such a vibrant city. His family is left with a void that no other person could fill, but they are sustained by the knowledge that he spent his final days in one of the only cities deserving of such a kind and gentle soul. His light outlives him and will never burn out.

His life will be honored by his family and close friends at 11:00am on Friday, January 26th, 2024 at the San Francisco Columbarium and Funeral Home.