SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA-John B. Parker, the founder of Orange County-based Parker Properties and an industry pioneer whose career spanned 60 years, has died at the age of 83. Parker—who made his mark as a developer, a brokerage executive and a leader in education, community and cultural organizations—died of a cerebral hemorrhage at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo.

Parker, who was a resident of San Juan Capistrano, had been active in Aliso Viejo-based Parker Properties until the time of his death. Over the course of his career, he was responsible for the development of over 10 million square feet of office space in Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Diego and developed some of Southern California’s most recognized commercial buildings.

Parker’s real estate industry accomplishments ranged from opening the first Orange County office of Coldwell Banker (now CB Richard Ellis) in 1962, to moving Allergan Pharmaceuticals to its current location in Irvine to the development of the Summit Office Campus in Aliso Viejo—along with supporting industry education via efforts like his role in establishing the University of California, Irvine Graduate School of Management. Outside of the industry, he was active in supporting community and cultural organizations including UC Irvine Program in Geriatric’s Senior Health Center, KidWorks, the Orange County Performing Arts Center and Laguna Beach Museum of Art.