ForeverMissed
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Glenn always liked math and science, but then, he liked reading and school in general (not surprising since both his parents graduated from a teacher training school).  His happy childhood as the youngest of four children was spent in Ladysmith, Wisconsin.  After graduating from high school there in 1953, he started college and began his years of study which culminated in his PhD from  the University of Wisconsin in 1972.  These years weren't all spent studying in college.  In 1955, he enlisted in the army where he was trained in crypto-equipment in the Army Security Agency and was sent to Germany for about two years.  After his return in 1957, he went on to finish his bachelor's and some years later, his master's degrees. He met and eventually married his wife, Sue, in 1960.  From 1960 to 1967 he taught advanced math and physics in a high school in northern Wisconsin.  

An interesting opportunity presented itself to him in 1967.  He was invited to spend two years in Nigeria as part of a University of Wisconsin project sponsored by USAID to develop and improve the curriculum in the Nigerian Teacher Training Colleges.  He would be teaching and writing science curriculum materials.  He couldn't resist such an experience, so Glenn and Sue were off to Africa.  In 1969 he returned to the University of Wisconsin to complete his doctorate which he did in 1972.  He was then offered a teaching position at Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, where he finished his years of teaching.  He went on to return to public education when he became a supervisor of science teaching in Manalapan, N.J.

Glenn enjoyed sports very much, both as a participant and as a spectator.  In high school he played on the baseball team and began his lifelong devotion to golf and tennis.  He even had a hole in one in the twilight on a course at Chetek, Wisconsin.  He happily played both golf and tennis (doubles) this year.  He also enjoyed pool and bridge and played both regularly at the local senior center.  As a spectator,  he was interested in watching the sports he played (he attended several U.S. Open tennis and golf tournaments)  as well as University of Wisconsin football and basketball games.  He was a fervent Green Bay Packers fan.

Glenn loved traveling to new and different parts of the world.  He was given his first real traveling experience when the army sent him to Germany when he was 20.  His interesting experiences there eventually lead him to places like China, England, Croatia, Italy, Portugal, the Soviet Union (including the Central Asian republics), China, Chile, Spain, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, France, New Zealand, Slovenia, etc.  These trips always included his very happy and equally travel-enamored wife.
His greatest traveling experience was the two years he and Sue spent in Nigeria from 1967 to 69.  He didn't have to learn a new language because English was used in the schools (although many other  languages were used locally).  He loved the idea that he never knew what the day would bring.  It could be that his horse escaped, that there was no running water, that the Emir paid a visit, or that a neighboring Peace Corps person killed a spitting cobra in his yard.  He loved the work he was doing (teaching and writing) and learning about the people and their culture.
Glenn retired from his years in education in 1998. Sue joined him the next year.  They decided to stay in Hightstown where they've lived in a friendly, supportive neighborhood with many kind and interesting people.  This kept them in the area of friends from Glenn's days at Rider University and also friends from Hiltonia, the neighborhood of Trenton where they lived in the '70's and '80's.  They also spent about two months each summer at their house in northern Wisconsin.  One of the sources of pleasure and learning during retirement has been their participation in the Community Auditing Program at Princeton University.  All this contributed to twenty-two years of happy retirement.

(written by Sue Palmer)



Additional Important Information

  • With Covid-19, a memorial event for Glenn is not possible at this time.  When the situation allows, Sue's intention is to organize a memorial gathering for Glenn in New Jersey and also in Wisconsin.  Logistics for these events will be published on this site. 

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  • In case you're interested, here are some charitable organizations that Glenn has supported.
    • Africare. Glenn and Sue loved Africa after living and teaching school in Nigeria from 1967 to 1968.  They have regularly supported www.africare.org, a leading non-governmental organization (NGO), whose mission is to improve the quality of life of the people in Africa. 

    • Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). The SPLC (splcenter.org) is dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. Using litigation, education, and other forms of advocacy, the SPLC works toward the day when the ideals of equal justice and equal opportunity will be a reality.

    • The Carter Center.  The Carter Center (www.cartercenter.org) is guided by a fundamental commitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering, the Center seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health.

    • The Trust for Public Land (TPL). The TPL (www.tpl.org) creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come.
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  • This memorial website is intended to be a collaborative and living memorial to Glenn and enables anyone to share memories of Glenn in different ways. You have 3 ways to do it:
    • Add a short "tribute" statement (see below on this page). 

    • Add a picture to the "Gallery" section of this web site.  If you do add a picture, please add a description and if possible the year in which the picture was taken and it will get sequenced in approximate chronological order.

    •  If you have a longer story to tell about Glenn, add it to the "Stories" section of this web site.

      Thanks for contributing to Glenn's memory!
January 12, 2021
January 12, 2021
Wow, never knew all this about Glenn. First met at the Ranney Reunion in Cromwell, Connecticut (Thos. Ranney had oldest gravestone in the Old Burying Ground, ca. 1670 as I recall). Glenn was active in organizing the event, as I recall. Not sure, but think he joined my father (Ralph) in restoring the Thos. Ranney gravestone from the new graveyard to the original site. 
November 26, 2020
November 26, 2020
I strongly associate Thanksgiving with Glenn and Sue, who often generously invited international students from Princeton (including myself) to their home for a delicious festive meal and an afternoon/evening of fun. I cherish those memories, and am thankful for having met Glenn and Sue, and for all the moments spent together. Happy Thanksgiving.
November 15, 2020
November 15, 2020
Mrs. Palmer I'm so very sorry for your loss. You and Mr. Palmer saved my life all those years ago. You met me at Grant Elementary School and you found a lost and confused child. You presented me to Mr. Palmer and he introduced me to my first experience with an Apple MAC and he taught me the importance of hard work and an education. I have used everything he taught me and I can say today I’m an upstanding citizen contributing to society. His legacy lives within me, my children, grandchildren and he will never be forgotten. I can say with all my heart that both of you have made this a better world.
October 22, 2020
October 22, 2020
Glenn would have been 85 today.  My thoughts are with Sue and all those who think of Glenn and miss him.
July 15, 2020
July 15, 2020
Although Glenn and Sue chose to move away from Hiltonia for a more convenient work commute, they never really abandoned us. It was always
a joy to welcome them back for our social activities. 
Our friendship is lengthy, for they took me on-board the tennis bandwagon, and I played with the Sunday night women's group. Glenn was always the
spark for the annual "banquet." 
We also had a North Woods connection; they, Wisconsin, I from the UP, Michigan. He and Sue had a wonderful life together. 
Sue, you will continue to be my friend forever. Sending love, Pat
July 10, 2020
July 10, 2020
I can only imagine how difficult it is to navigate life without your soulmate at your side. Even as I write this I feel like grieving for you but I also feel the grace You had of having Glen for so many wonderful healthy years and such a full life you two had together. I am going to choose to remember all the wonderful stories of your travels and studies. You two were such a great inspiration as a couple still holding hands and playing tennis together helping each other finish the sentence. I also could see that you stood on your own and hope that you can find peace in this next phase of you knowing he will always be at your side. Hope we can see you soon. Love Lori and Steve
June 16, 2020
June 16, 2020
We moved in across the street from Glenn and Sue in 2016 and our son, Gavin, was 5. Within the first few weeks of moving in, Glenn found out Gavin is a Green Bay Packers fan and without hesitation, Glenn went into their house and came out with one of his Packers hats to give to Gavin. Gavin absolutely adores Glenn and Sue and would run over to talk to them every time he saw them outside. Glenn was such a treasure with his warm smile and kind heart. He always had a story to tell. We will miss you, Glenn.
Love,
The Burgoyne Family
May 30, 2020
May 30, 2020
I met Mr. Palmer when I was about 12 years old (I am now 57) through Mrs. Palmer who was my Guidance Counselor when I was in the sixth grade. He has been part of my life ever since. He is the only reason I went to college (Rider) regularly checking in on me and always seemed to know when I was veering down the wrong path and stepped in to straighten me out :) He has always been a father figure to me and had so much impact on my life. I love him and will miss him dearly. 

Mrs Palmer; I love you both and greatly appreciate the love, kindness and attention you've shown me through all of these years. Jerome
May 8, 2020
May 8, 2020
Sue,
What a beautiful tribute!! I thought I knew a lot about our dear neighbor, Glenn, until I read this. What a fascinating life, and obviously one well lived!  No wonder he always walked with such a a big smile on his face. We will certainly miss seeing him around the neighborhood.
Love,
The Sharpe Family
May 2, 2020
May 2, 2020
Glenn quickly went from a distant relative to the first person I’d be asking about before going on our family trips. He brought the right energy for every occasion; never stealing the spotlight, but keeping the conversation alive and everyone included. He always brought something to the table, be it unique insights, fun/interesting travel stories, something new he learned shadowing classes at Princeton. You name it. There was never a dull moment when he was around.

Getting to know Glenn (and Sue) also got rid of any fears I had of getting older. All the downsides of age you hear about didn’t seem to affect them at all. He had all the wisdom and experience without even a hint of slowing down. He set a great example of what a life well lived looks like and it’s one we all are blessed to have been a part of.

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Recent Tributes
January 12, 2021
January 12, 2021
Wow, never knew all this about Glenn. First met at the Ranney Reunion in Cromwell, Connecticut (Thos. Ranney had oldest gravestone in the Old Burying Ground, ca. 1670 as I recall). Glenn was active in organizing the event, as I recall. Not sure, but think he joined my father (Ralph) in restoring the Thos. Ranney gravestone from the new graveyard to the original site. 
November 26, 2020
November 26, 2020
I strongly associate Thanksgiving with Glenn and Sue, who often generously invited international students from Princeton (including myself) to their home for a delicious festive meal and an afternoon/evening of fun. I cherish those memories, and am thankful for having met Glenn and Sue, and for all the moments spent together. Happy Thanksgiving.
November 15, 2020
November 15, 2020
Mrs. Palmer I'm so very sorry for your loss. You and Mr. Palmer saved my life all those years ago. You met me at Grant Elementary School and you found a lost and confused child. You presented me to Mr. Palmer and he introduced me to my first experience with an Apple MAC and he taught me the importance of hard work and an education. I have used everything he taught me and I can say today I’m an upstanding citizen contributing to society. His legacy lives within me, my children, grandchildren and he will never be forgotten. I can say with all my heart that both of you have made this a better world.
His Life

Palmer Family History

April 12, 2020
The known history of the Palmer family goes back to Walter Palmer who was born in Yetminster, Dorset, England 1585.    He married in England and was the father of 5 children.   

On April 5th, 1629, Walter Palmer sailed on the Four Sisters ship along with 5 other ships (including the Mayflower, but not on its maiden voyage) and arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in June of the same year.  In1631 Walter took the Oath of a Freeman pledging his allegiance to the Massachusetts Bay Colony (and not the English Crown) and in 1633 married Rebecca Short and they had 7 children together.  In 1635, he was elected a selectman (the executive branch of the city government) of Charlestown, Massachusetts where he had settled after marriage.  He later become the constable of the city.   

In 1643, Walter left Charleston and was one of the founders of Rehoboth, Massachusetts where he later became one of the city's selectmen and later became the deputy elected to represent Rehoboth at the Plymouth court (it was part of the Plymouth Colony).  In 1652, after becoming disappointed in the alignment of Rehoboth with the Plymouth Colony, Palmer co-founded Stonington, Connecticut, a new settlement where he again served as both a selectman and constable.   The 300 year old Stonington Chronology describes Palmer as
"...the patriarch of the early Stonington settlers... (who) had been prominent in the establishment of Boston, Charlestown and Rehoboth ...a vigorous giant, 6 feet 5 inches tall. When he settled at Southertown (Stonington) he was sixty-eight years old, older than most of the other settlers.
Walter Palmer died in 1661.  Many, many generations of Walter's and Rebecca's descendants continued to live in the Stonington, Connecticut and surrounding areas until Stephen Richard Palmer married Emeline Mary Van Note in 1850 and moved to Christian County, Illinois in 1856.  Stephen fought in the Civil War and after returning home had a son, Frederick Cornelius in 1864.  In 1867, the family moved north to Dunn County, Wisconsin in an area that later became Wheeler, Wisconsin.

In 1889, Frederick married Clara May Hughbanks and on November 28, 1894, William Allen Palmer -- Glenn's Father -- was born in Wheeler, Wisconsin. 



Ranney Family History (Glenn's Mother)

April 14, 2020
The known history of the Ranney family (Glenn's mother's side of the family) goes back to Thomas Ranney who was born in 1578 and lived in Montrose, Scotland (south of Aberdeen).  In 1614 he married Elizabeth Brand and together they had a son, also named Thomas in 1616.  In 1657, Thomas and his family sailed to the new world and settled in Middletown, Connecticut a generation after the town's first settlers had arrived.  Thomas' family lived in an area known as the Middleton Upper Houses, which later became Cromwell, Connecticut. He became a well respected member of the town and served on many of the town's committees.  

Many generations of Thomas and Elizabeth's descendants continued to live in the Stonington, Connecticut and surrounding areas until Lymon Ranney moved to Perrysburg, New York (near Buffalo) and married Sophronia Soper in 1817.  In 1825, Edward Allen Ranney was born -- one of 14 children!  

In 1847, Edward Ranney married Orpha Bushnell and moved back to the Middleton Upper Houses area and settled in Barkhamsted, Connecticut but in 1867, they moved Tainter, Dunn County, Wisconsin.  In 1867, they had a son -- Edgar Allen -- one of two children. 

In 1897, Edgar Ranney married Ellen Hannah Danter and they also settled in Tainter.  In 1899, Elsie Faye -- Glenn's mother -- was born, one of 5 children.  In 1900, the family moved to Sherman Towns, Dunn County, Wisconsin. 


Band of Brothers: Glenn, Keith & Wayne

April 17, 2020
A very important aspect of Glenn's life was his relationship with his brothers -- Wayne and Keith -- aka “The Brothers”.  They grew up in a small northern Wisconsin city and while they had many similar childhood and young adult experiences, over their lifetimes, they grew into strikingly unique people -- with very different belief systems and life focuses.  These differences could have easily created great distance between the brothers, but in the bigger picture, they added tremendous richness to the narrative of their lives and the love they had for each other. 

Please note, the home page of this memorial site has an overview of Glenn’s life (About Glenn).  If you haven’t read that you might do so first as information there won’t be repeated.  

This then, is the story of "The Brothers".

William Allen Palmer (Bill) and Elsie Faye Ranney were married in 1920 after William returned from World War I and settled in Wheeler, Wisconsin, population 300.  Bill was a rural mail carrier delivering the mail (at first by horse, later by car) and later in retirement, started a Schwinn bicycle dealership in the basement of their house.  Elsie was a housewife and had her hands full raising the kids.  Wayne was born in 1921 and Keith in 1926 and Glenn, the youngest was born in 1935.  In 1940, the family moved to Ladysmith, Wisconsin, with a rousing population of 3500.  Ladysmith is located in northwest Wisconsin and the town grew up on two major industries, logging and farming. The mouth of the Flambeau River lies near Ladysmith and was an ideal spot from which to float logs down to mills at Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls.  The logging industry fell off sharply after 1915, and farming then rose to take its place and is still the major industry of the area today.  Bill was an avid hunter and fisherman and he used to take a shotgun with him on his mail route to shoot pheasant or other game he saw along the way and bring it home for dinner.  He instilled his love of the outdoors in his sons.  Elsie and Bill, as sometimes practicing Methodists, tried to ingrain religious beliefs in their kids but had quite varied success as you will see.  Although money was tight and jobs were scarce amid the great depression, life in rural northern Wisconsin was generally uncomplicated for Wayne, Keith and Glenn, and might have even been called idyllic.  

Given the rural environment and their father's outdoor hobbies, all three brothers grew up with a common love of the outdoors. Hunting and fishing were a constant part of their early lives and continued in the early part of their adult lives.  Sports were especially important for them and a common love.  Wayne played football, basketball and baseball in high school and began a lifetime love of racketball.  Keith also played football, basketball and baseball, but additionally, was an active member of the ski jump club, and started his long term obsession with golf.  Glenn played baseball and developed a passion for both golf and tennis which he played his entire his life.  Glenn and Keith had many a competitive match of golf and although meaningful money was at stake, bragging rights and pride were the more important spoils going to the winner.

Service to their country, as it was with many of the men at the time, was an important, shared focus for the brothers.   Glenn’s Story on the front page of this web site, already covered the background of Glenn’s military service so it won’t be repeated here (if you haven’t read it yet, please do so).

After graduating high school in 1940, Wayne tried to enlist for WWII but was turned down due to poor eyesight.  He then went to college at Stout University in Menominee, Wisconsin for 2 years studying drafting and shop, but in the wonderful way our government sometimes works, he was drafted by the Army in 1942.  He trained to be a medic and was first stationed in Algeria, North Africa and given a desk job.  This bored him and since one of his duties was maintaining the lists of who was assigned to which divisions -- he assigned himself to the Big Red One, the fighting First Infantry Division.  He then saw action as a medic in the invasion of Sicily, the invasion of Europe (he was in the first wave at Omaha beach), and mainland European battles including the Battle of the Bulge. He returned in 1945 as a Staff Sergeant and a war hero with 4 purple hearts, 2 silver stars, 2 bronze stars, 2 presidential citations and a watch from the Swiss government for being the most decorated man in the 1st Infantry Division.  

After graduating from high school in 1943 in the middle of his senior year, Keith went to Minneapolis to enlist in the military to serve in WWII.  However, his poor vision, like Wayne when he first tried, made him ineligible. However, the Merchant Marines had a recruiting station next door and they weren’t concerned about the quality of his vision. He was allowed to sign-up as a mariner, but since he was not yet 18, his parents had to sign a waiver for him, which they reluctantly did.  The Merchant Marines took him on many adventures throughout the South Pacific, the Horn of Africa and Australia as documented in highly entertaining letters he wrote home to his mother.  Keith was blessed with a great gift of humor and writing talent and later in life published a book of tremendously funny stories from his life titled "Episodes…..Old Oriental Curse: May you live an interesting life.”  After WWII ended in 1945, Keith returned and moved to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin to work for the Soo Line Railroad and also attended Oshkosh State Teachers College (Now UW Oshkosh) for a semester.  But the Korean War started in 1950, and any male between the ages of 18 - 26 was eligible for the draft. Keith was 25, and assumed that he would again not qualify for the service due to his poor vision, but he made a very flippant remark to the person giving the eye exam and consequently was given a “passing” vision score.  Therefore, in a twist of fate, he once again served his country, this time as an Airman 1st Class, stationed in London maintaining radar systems for B45 bombers. When he returned in 1953, he was recognized as a war veteran, but was only credited for his two years of service in the Korean War, not his time in the Merchant Marines.  (It took until the Schumacher Act of 1988 for this error to be fixed and he was given the proper veteran recognition due him.)

All totaled, the brothers dedicated over 11 years of their combined lives in service for their country.  And then, like the rest of the greatest generation, the brothers got on with building the rest of their lives and it is during this time that their paths greatly diverged.

Upon return from service in 1947, Wayne quickly married his high school sweetheart Betty Jane Nelson in 1946 in Ladysmith, Wisconsin.  They settled in Ladysmith where they had daughters Debbie (1952) and Sandy (1954).  Wayne had a short stint working for the railroad in Ladysmith while Betty worked as a receptionist for an optometrist.  The family moved to Oshkosh in 1955 where they had son Craig (1960) and there, Wayne spent the rest of his career working for 2 companies -- The Radford Company and Morgan Company -- running a commercial sales department for windows and doors.  Betty gave up work and focused primarily on raising the kids.  Both Wayne and Betty were very active, senior members of the Church of Christ and in fact had founded the church in their basement when they first moved to Oshkosh when they couldn't find one to their liking.  Given their religious beliefs, neither Wayne or Betty drank any alcohol, although in her later years after Wayne passed, Betty was known to have her arm twisted by her son Craig to have a glass or two of wine which she learned to enjoy very much.  Wayne continued his occasional hobbies of hunting and fishing for some years, but shifted primarily to racketball, played at the YMCA, where he was one of the top players.  Both Wayne and Betty became lifetime (religious) republicans and likely never voted for a democrat.  After the kids scattered to the 4 winds -- Craig to Colorado and then California, Debbie to Colorado and then Idaho and Sandy to Washington, South Carolina and finally Alabama -- Wayne and Betty moved to Daphne, Alabama in 2000 to be nearer Sandy and their grandkids Jesse and Caitlin.  Wayne and Betty were together for 57 years at the time of Wayne's passing in 2003.  Betty passed away in 2015. 

After Keith returned from the Korean War in 1953, he settled back in Fond du Lac, WI. One Saturday he and his buddies drove to Milwaukee to see the Braves play (before they became the Brewers). After the game they went to a bar (Keith was rumored to like drinking very much!) where he met Carol Mary Danish who would only let Keith buy her a Coke; as she rarely drank because one drink would get her tipsy.  Thus, begun a long-distance relationship that led to their marriage in 1955.  The couple settled in Milwaukee where they had son Mark (1957), and daughter Patty (1958). Keith built a career in technical writing at Career Academy, Nordberg and P&H Harnischfeger advancing to Manager of Technical Publications and Carol worked as a salesperson for a local dress shop while raising the kids.  Although Carol was a deeply religious Catholic prior to marriage (she had considered becoming a nun), she had a falling out with the church and afterward, religion ceased to be a key part of the family and Keith evolved into a disinterested agnostic.  Keith hunted and fished occasionally but primarily continued to feed his passion for golf.  He was an avid and educated reader, a conservative “Reagan” republican and political junkie often calling into local radio shows to air his views on local issues.  In 1977, after Patty and Mark settled on their own in the Milwaukee area, Keith and Carol moved to Barrington, Illinois where Keith worked for International Harvester and Northrup Defense Systems again managing technical publications; and Carol worked in the Child Care Center of the YMCA.  In 1990, Keith retired, and he and Carol moved back to Greendale, Wisconsin, to be nearer to Mark and Patty. Shortly thereafter they celebrated the births of their granddaughter (Kelly b.1990) and grandson (Christopher b.1991).  Keith setup a consulting business -- Palmer Associates -- where he did contract writing.   Keith and Carol were together for 57 years when Carol passed away in 2012.  Keith passed away in 2017.

Glenn returned from military service in 1957 and focused on finishing his college studies as previously noted.  In 1958, Glenn met Sue in 1958 under very strange circumstances.  At that time Glenn was dating a girl who had a sister Coleen who did not know the two were dating.  Glenn learned a lot about Coleen from her sister and decided to play a prank on Coleen by walking up to her in a bar and dancehall in Eau Claire called "The Hoot" and reciting facts about her that a stranger could not know.  Sue was a friend of Coleen's and witnessed this strange man, Glenn, harassing her friend who didn't really appreciate it, so he certainly made a memorable, though not entirely positive impression on Sue.  Although nothing came of it at the time, as fate would have it, they stayed in touch and started dating later that year.  After graduation, Glenn and Sue taught class at local high schools and then decided to get married, and of course they did it in their own unique way -- which was to elope and not tell anyone.  Unfortunately the secret slipped out 3 days before the wedding so in the end, both of their now greatly annoyed parents and siblings scrambled to attend the wedding at the local church which was not rescheduled. 

As previously noted, Glenn and Sue spent 2 years in Nigeria and this began a lifelong love of Africa and African culture and their house is full of art and artifacts they brought home -- some of which would be impossible to get today.  They both developed a lifetime passion for travel and learning about foreign culture.  Unlike Glenn’s brothers, Glenn and Sue decided not to have children and raising a family was not a primary focus for them.   They also developed a focus on healthy living in food and exercise which was often at great odds with their Wisconsin upbringing (no butter?!?) and Glenn’s brothers.

After moving to New Jersey and gaining access to the arts and cultural opportunities of the area, they became frequent attendees of Broadway and off Broadway plays in New York City and have visited almost every museum there -- many more than once.   They both continued to play tennis while Glenn maintained his passion for golf.  Given their life experience and the area they lived in, it’s not surprising they became liberal progressives -- very different than Glenn’s much more conservative brothers.  Their diverse political views led to never ending debates between Glenn and Keith that continued throughout their lives. Glenn and Sue also were atheists -- with Glenn once declaring at a family dinner that Jesus was just an ordinary man, and in fact was a rabble rouser, much to the horror of his parents and his brother Wayne.  

After they both retired they continued their lifelong passion for learning and education.  They were voracious readers, and they began auditing college classes at nearby Princeton -- almost every semester.  Glenn said auditing was the best of both worlds  because you could learn about topics you liked, but you didn't have to take the tests.  

When you step back and look closely at the people the brothers had become, the differences are striking.  From The very religious (Wayne) to the agnostic (Keith) and atheist (Glenn); from conservative republican (Keith) to religious republican (Wayne) to progressive liberal (Glenn); from kids (Keith, Wayne) to no kids (Glenn).  From extensive international travel, experience in foreign cultures and passion for the arts (Glenn) to limited focus on these aspects (Wayne, Keith)...... the differences between the brothers was quite immense.   In today's supercharged political environment, the differences in their politics might be enough to keep them apart, much less their differences in interests and lifestyle.  But even with these differences, there never was a time when the brothers didn't love each other deeply and over their lifetimes, their uniqueness became something to celebrate as opposed to something to keep them apart.

With Glenn's passing, his marriage to Sue of 59 years surpasses both Keith's and Wayne's and it closes the book on this band of brothers' lives, though Glenn's legacy lives on.



Recent stories
October 25, 2020
I met Glenn and Sue in 1983 when I started dating my future husband, David Pierfy. Dave and Glenn met in 1972 when both started teaching at Rider College (now University.) Glenn always impressed me as being very intelligent, curious, caring and had a great sense of humor.  When I picture him in my mind, it is with that devilish grin.  I cherish the time Dave and I spent with Glenn and Sue over the years.  Their mutual adoration and devotion was so evident.  We got together for dinners, movies, theater shows, local festivals and tennis on Sunday nights.  We spent many a New Years Eve together celebrating the start to another year.  They were included in many of our family holiday celebrations through the years and were well known and loved by our children.  Dave and I send our deepest sympathy to Sue for her (and our) loss and will always support her during this difficult time.  I am grateful to have known Glenn for 37 years.  He made a difference in people's lives during his lifetime.  Glenn was one-of-a kind and will live on in my memories.

August 29, 2020
As was mentioned elsewhere on this website, Glenn was an avid tennis player and that's how we originally met, on a tennis court.  
Glenn, along with Dave Pierfy and Bill Guthrie (I joined a year later), was a founding member of our original tennis group formed in 1983/84.  We played on Sunday nights at the old Mercer County courts at Trenton airport, where we had to hone our lobbing skills to avoid hitting the numerous rafters holding that decrepit facility up. as well as the occasional raccoon peering down from those rafters. After that facility closed down, we continued at Mercer County park in their new tennis bubble (when doing things in a bubble didn't have anything to do with the corona virus pandemic).  In those days it was just the four of us and we rarely missed a game!
At the same time, I played with another group during the week, and as some of the other players dropped out, I recruited Glenn and the other Sunday players to join our other group so that we all wound up playing two nights a week throughout the winter season.
Glenn was the oldest member of the group, but you would never know it by the way he played and moved around the court.  He was a great tennis partner, but more importantly, he was a wonderful friend of long standing.  Bonnie and I spent many enjoyable visits (and restaurant meals) with Glenn and Sue discussing many different topics of mutual interest, with travel being one of our favorites. We miss him, his friendship and his laughter.  The annual tennis banquets, of which he was always an integral part, will never be the same without Glenn. 
With love (and continuing friendship) to Sue.
Tom and Bonnie

July 13, 2020
The Palmers were the host family for my wife Jing, when she arrived in Princeton for the first year as an international student. He (and Sue) has been more than that for over a decade to both of us. His life with passion and excitement, his love to Sue over half a century (and still there), his constant curiosity to embrace new things in life... all established what I know about Glenn over the years as a great person, a friend and a life idol. Maybe it is better in another language to put some words here that my vocabulary is so limited to express my appreciation and admiration to this gentleman.

Life is busy, and life is sophisticated. Most of the time we do things for today or tomorrow. Somehow we don't even have a chance to think about what we need and how do we get there. It really is my pleasure to get to know him because he showed me a way of great life could possibly be as an ordinary human being.

I am thankful for the time we spent together. But I don't miss Glenn. I don't have to. He is with me, as always.

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