Philip Edward PALMER

PALMER, Philip Edward, M.D., M.P.H. Passed away peacefully the evening of Monday, October 6, 2014, after a long illness. He is survived by his wife, Heather, son, Mike, daughter, Jenny, daughter-in-law, Jessica, son-in-law, David, grandchildren, Charlotte and Clifford, brother, Larry and sister-in-law, Diane. Philip was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in Arlington, VA, where he attended James Munroe Elementary School and Washington & Lee High School. Throughout his schooling, he was an outstanding basketball and baseball player. Philip graduated from Washington & Lee University and University of Virginia Medical School. He served as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Navy's Aviation branch. After residency training in pathology at New England Deaconess Hospital, Philip spent several years on the staff of the Pathology Department at Tuft's New England Medical Center where he published research on alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Reflecting his interest in population health in the developing world, he obtained a Master's in Public Health at the Harvard School of Public Health. Subsequently, he was Chief Pathologist and Director of the Clinical Laboratory at the Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer, MA for 22 years. Throughout his life, he was a friend and protector of those who were bullied and discriminated against. He was a lifelong scholar, a dedicated physician, and a kind, gentle and caring man of great integrity, with a playful sense of humor. Philip was a dedicated member for almost 40 years of the First Baptist Church in Newton. A memorial celebrating Philip's life will be held at First Baptist Church in Newton on the afternoon of Sunday, November 9. For updates on details of this occasion, please check the First Baptist Church in Newton website (www.fbcnewton.org). In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Doctors Without Borders (www.doctorswithout

borders.org), or Oxfam (www.oxfam.org).

Burke & Blackington Funeral Home

www.BurkeFamilyFuneralHomes.com