Thomas A. Parrott – Colonel, United States Army Central Intelligence Agency Official

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Thomas A. Parrott, 92, a former official with the Central Intelligence Agency and a member of several hospital boards and citizen groups, died June 14, 2007, of a heart attack at his home in Washington. He had a second home in Fishers Island, New York.

Mr. Parrott spent 24 years with the CIA and was Assistant Deputy Director for National Intelligence Programs. Early in his career, he was Deputy Chief of the Soviet Division of the Clandestine Services Unit, a base chief in Germany and an assistant to CIA Director Allen Dulles.

During the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, he was assigned to the White House.

Mr. Parrott was born at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and graduated from high school in Princeton, New Jersey. He was a 1936 graduate of Princeton University.

During World War II, he served in the Army in North Africa and Italy and was awarded the Soldier’s Medal and Legion of Merit. He served in the Army Reserve for many years.

After retiring from the CIA in 1973, Mr. Parrott was vice chairman of the board of the Washington Hospital Center and was a founding director of the National Rehabilitation Hospital. He was an officer of the Citizens Association of Georgetown and served on the boards of the Foundation for the Preservation of Historic Georgetown and Hospice Care of D.C. He was on the original board of the City Tavern Club and was a member of the Chevy Chase Club and the Metropolitan Club. He had lived in Georgetown since 1949.

A son, Tommy Parrott, died in 1957.

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Barbara Parrott of Washington; two daughters, Cynthia MacNair and Susan Crary, both of New York; and three grandchildren.

THOMAS A. PARROTT

Of Washington, D.C. and Fishers Island, New York, after 92 wonderful years, passed away peacefully June 14, 2007. He was with the CIA for 24 years and served as Assistant Deputy Director for National Intelligence Programs. Earlier in his career with the CIA he was the Deputy Chief of the Soviet Division of the Clandestine Services, a Base Chief in Germany, Assistant to the Director of Central Intelligence, Allen Dulles, and held an unprecedented assignment to the White House that included the period of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

During WWII, Mr. Parrott served with the Army in North Africa and Italy. He was awarded the Soldier’s Medal (the Army’s highest decoration for heroism not in actual combat), the Legion of Merit and honored by Italy with the Order of Sts. Maurizio and Lazarus (at the time the oldest order of nobility in Europe). He retired from the Army Reserve as a Colonel.

After retiring from the CIA in 1973, he was active in many charitable and community organizations. He served on the Board of the Washington Hospital Center as Vice Chairman, was one of five founding directors of the National Rehabilitation Hospital, was an officer of the Citizens Association of Georgetown, served on the boards of the Foundation for the Preservation of Historic Georgetown, the Hospice Care of D.C. and was on the original Board of the City Tavern Club. He was a member of the Chevy Chase Club and the Metropolitan Club. He graduated from Princeton University in 1936 and had lived in Georgetown since 1949.

Tom Parrott is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Barbara, of Washington; his daughters, Cynthia MacNair and Susan Crary; his son-in-law, Horace Crary, Jr.; and three loving grandchildrcn, Gardner, Nicholas and Ian Crary, all of New York City. His son, Tommy, predeceased him. Tom Parrott’s sharp mind, wit, loyalty and love will be deeply missed.

Services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery, September 28 at 11 a.m. Contributions in his memory may be made to the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Attn: Michael Leaver, 102 Irving Street NW, Washington, DC 20010.

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