Catherine Gardella Palmer

Palmer Catherine Gardella Palmer, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, IU Medical School. Her family, friends, colleagues and students are saddened by her passing, but join in celebrating a life well-lived. Age 92, Dr. Palmer died in Dublin, Ohio, on November 28, 2016. A longtime resident of Indianapolis, she moved from New York to obtain her Ph.D. from Indiana University in Cytogenetics. She joined the faculty of IU Medical School, teaching medical genetics, doing Cancer Research, running the Cytogenetics Lab and eventually becoming Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies (1981), until she retired in 1994. She was a graduate of New York City Walton High School (1941), Hunter College - B.A. (1947), Smith College - M.A. (1949), and Indiana University - Ph.D. (1953). Dr. Palmer brought many honors to the IU Medical School, including a citation in the American Men and Women of Science and the IU Glenn Irwin Award for Excellence in Science. She also received the 2002 American Distinguished Cytogeneticist Award, recognizing her significant role in training many of the currently practicing clinical cytogeneticists in the US. In addition to professional societies, Sigma XI, the American Society of Human Genetics, the Genetics Society of American, the American Society for the Advancement of Science, and the College of American Pathology, she was a member of the Indiana University Alumni Association, Elder of Second Presbyterian Church, and active with the Friends of Holliday Park. She enjoyed nature, gardening, bird watching and her companion dogs. Her husband of 56 years, Robert M. Palmer, M.D., daughter Eve and her parents Alfred Gardella and Eva Cella Gardella and half-brother John Livellara preceded her in death. She leaves behind children, Christopher (Beverly) Palmer and Ann Ralston (Gary); and four grandsons, Andrew and Michael Palmer and Justin and Logan McMath; and brother, Paul (Anna) Gardella of Eastchester, N.Y. Visitation will be at the LEPPERT MORTUARY, Nora Chapel, 740 East 86th Street, Indianapolis from 4-7 p.m. Friday, December 2, 2016. Service will be held Saturday, December 3 at Second Presbyterian Church, 7700 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis. Reception is at 9 a.m., with service at 10 a.m., followed by interment at Washington Park North. Please visit www.leppertmortuary.com where you may sign the guest book or leave a message for the family. In lieu of flowers, Dr. Palmer requested contributions be made to the Friends of Holliday Park (www.hollidaypark.org/donate).