Richard J. Palmer
Richard J. Palmer, 89, of Franklin passed away Tuesday after a period of declining health.
He was born June 3, 1927, in Butler, to Richard G. and Doris Meddiker Palmer.
Richard graduated from Butler high School in 1945 and then served his country in the U.S. Navy as a corpsman taking care of wounded troops returning home from World War II. He received an honorable discharge in December 1946.
He was a gifted musician, able to play the piano by ear, and was a member of several bands in the Butler and Pittsburgh area.
He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Pittsburgh and later completed his doctorate at Columbia University in New York City.
A language major, he began his career as a graduate assistant in Spanish and French at Pitt. He later worked for Gulf Oil in Caracas, Venezuela, for eight years. Upon returning to the U.S., he was a Spanish professor at Columbia University and John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. He then served as a professional interpreter for the federal court, Southern District of New York. He was an extremely talented linguist who could speak seven languages and was always striving to learn more. He was quite an intellectual and read major newspapers in several languages daily. He also was a contributor to many online blogs in several languages.
Upon his retirement, he lived in Franklin during the summer and Isla Verde, Puerto Rico, in winter, where he had visited many times while living in New York City and joined many of his dear longtime friends. He was known and loved for his quick wit and love of humor. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
He is survived by his sister-in-law, Aileen Palmer of Franklin; six nieces and nephews, Bruce (ConnieJo) Palmer, Carol (Stan) Santoyo, Deborah (Tim) Law, all of Franklin, Leanne (Scott) Darling of Newburgh, Ind., Dale Palmer and Lisa (Massimo) Ballerini of San Francisco, Calif.; and several cousins.
Also surviving are nine great-nieces and great-nephews, Richard Palmer, Sarah Palmer of Pittsburgh, Julie (Nate) Fowler, Korey Dunlap, Nathan Dunlap of Franklin, Nick Darling, Jared Darling of Newburgh, Ind., Caterina Ballerini and Isabella Ballerini of San Francisco, Calif.; and one great-great-niece, Bethany Dunlap of Franklin.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Robert, Dale and Donald Palmer; and one great-nephew, Scott Darling Jr.
PALMER — There will be no public visitation for Richard J. Palmer, who died Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016.Private family services will be conducted with burial at Franklin Cemetery.Arrangements have been entrusted to Huff Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Franklin, Pa.Online condolences and sympathy cards may be sent to his family by visiting www.hufffuneral.com
