Obituary of James J. Palmer

James J. Palmer Of Lighthouse Point, formerly of Point Breeze on Friday, September 25, 2020, age 87. Beloved husband of the late Katherine B. (Conway) Palmer; brother of Maureen Puntil (Ron); uncle of Ronald, Jr. (Cheryl), Dan (Kathy), Glenn (Kim), Susan Certo, Harry Conway and Smith Conway; great uncle of Claire, Laura, Julia, Max and Mark Puntil, and Colin, Emily, Caroline and Tommy Certo. Jim was born on October 22, 1932. He started his education at St. Kieran’s grade school and graduated from Central Catholic in 1951 where he was a member of the varsity swim team. He went on to the University of Pittsburgh on a swimming and diving scholarship where he majored in Business Administration. After graduation in 1955 as a member of the ROTC, he joined the US Army as a Second Lieutenant. He served in the Army in Germany for six years and was discharged from active duty in 1961 as a Captain. It was during this time that Jim bought a Porsche and traveled throughout Europe. He remained in Germany for another two years working for a German prefabrication company. After returning home he worked for the Nina Ricci/Pierre Cardin company as a salesman to department stores. Jim was a friend of Bill W for 42 years. Later in his career he became a drug and alcohol counselor at the former St. Francis Hospital. The family would like to thank his nurse Judy Herrle for her kind and compassionate care. She was a bright light in his last year. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in St. Mary Magdalene Parish, St. Bede Church on Friday, October 2 at 11 am. Interment private. Arrangements by McCabe Bros., Inc. Condolences may be left at www.mccabebrothers.com