Journalist Richard Palmer dies in Hawaii

August 28, 2011

Former Central Coast reporter and newspaper editor Richard Palmer died at his home in Hawaii Thursday after a long bout against a rare form of cancer. He was 63.

Born in Santa Monica, Palmer graduated from Cal Poly with a degree in journalism in 1972 before working for a series of small California newspapers. He joined the Telegram-Tribune in 1986 and served as assistant city editor until being promoted to editor of the Morro Bay Sun-Bulletin, a position he held until he resigned in 1999.

Palmer is also a former director of the Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce.

Palmer and his wife Linda, a former realtor in Los Osos, followed a lifelong dream and moved to Hawaii, settling on Hilo in 2000. He became the associate editor of the Hawaii Tribune-Herald in 2001, a position he held until his death.

Shortly after moving to Hilo, Palmer was diagnosed with GIST, a rare form of cancer and became actively involved in cancer research and support groups for the next decade.

In addition to his wife Linda, Palmer is survived by a son, Matthew, who lives in Atascadero and a daughter, Becky, in Los Osos. Donations in his memory are welcome at GIST Cancer Research Fund, 55 Saw Mill Road, New City, NY 10956.