Thomas Edgardo Palmer, 73, of Highland Park, IL, passed away on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Highland Park Hospital, surrounded by his loving family.
Born on May 14,1950, in Santa Fe, NM, Tom was raised in Wayne, PA, where he graduated from Radnor High School. He earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry with a minor in psychology from Case Western Reserve University.
Tom wisely married Deborah (Deb) Herman in Waukegan, IL.
Tom was a fun-spirited soul who pursued many passions. His great love of music led him to Sweden to join a rock band. Unfortunately, he was deported, leading him to Boston, where he briefly worked as a cab driver. Not wanting to pursue a career as a cab driver, Tom continued his education and earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry.
Strong-willed and perhaps stubborn at times, Tom had an enormous heart. He was clever and full to the brim with knowledge gained through his many life experiences -Tom was never just “in” - he was all in. A bit of a renaissance man, he was a phenomenal vegetable gardener, bred roses, followed world politics and studied ancient cultures. Tom was also a talented musician and a music aficionado. An avid angler and outdoorsman, he was also a staunch supporter of competitive shooting. A member of many shooting clubs and organizations, Tom was especially active in the United States Practical Shooting Association, where he earned the title of Range Master.
Tom will be remembered for all the love he shared with his friends and family. He truly loved each of them, and if you knew him, you knew it.
He is survived by his wife, Deb, his son Carl (Katheryn), his daughter, Janette Wilson and their mother, June Wilson Palmer and grandchildren, Thomas and Cami and sister, Mariana.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Sebastian Palmer of Mallorca, Spain, and Jane Livingston (Smalley) Palmer, adoptive parents, Everet and Frances Smalley and brother Alfred Palmer.
In typical Tom fashion, there are no planned funeral services. A Celebration of Life will occur, with details to be determined.
“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” - Pericles
