Robert E. Palmer

1956 - 2014

December 11, 1956 - September 4, 2014 Robert E. Palmer passed away on Thursday, September 4, at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, California. Mr. Palmer died after returning home from China the previous evening. The cause of death is listed as pneumonia, believed to have been brought on by a bacterial infection. He was a young-at-heart, 57 years old. A prominent resident of Orange County for many years, Robert was many things to many people and organizations. So many, in fact, that rather than listing all the things that he was, it is easier to mention what he was not. Robert was not an astronaut, yet through his efforts as Chair of the Board of Directors for the United Way, the Co-Chair of the Orange County Alexis de Tocqueville Society, and as a member of the Board of Directors for the South Coast Repertory theater he helped these organizations to do more good, to serve more people and to reach greater heights than they have ever thought possible. Robert was not a professor, yet his towering intellect and charismatic presence helped to make him a much in-demand litigator at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher's Orange County office, which he joined in 1984 after earning a law degree magna cum laude from Pepperdine University School of Law, and serving as the Editor-in-Chief of the Pepperdine Law Review. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska in 1978. Go Big Red was a favorite Palmer cheer. Robert was not a poet, yet his sparkling wit and legendary laugh made him a favorite host at numerous events and excursions and a much sought after Master of Ceremonies for favorite fundraisers, weddings and weekend retreats. Robert was not a soldier, yet he was a sturdy presence in the lives of his many friends, giving all he could, whenever he could, with an unwavering belief in the goodness of people and the possibilities that only come with an open heart. Robert was not an artist, yet his creativity was constantly on display, whether as a touring rock musician with the band, Keystone, as a radio host every Saturday morning on Laguna Beach's own KX 93.5, or as the Culture Editor for Bask Magazine. Robert was not a superhero, yet as the proud and devoted father to Paige and Max, and step-father to Lexie, Casey and Daniel, he was a man happiest when he was surrounded by his children who he accompanied with great fanfare on multiple trips across the world and cheered to notable success with admirable gusto. In addition, Robert is survived by his parents, the Reverend Robert and Mary Lou Palmer, his sister, Rebecca, and brothers, Rick and Randy. Robert was not a heart surgeon, but he was the devoted husband to his beloved Nancy, the only woman on earth who could match his giant love for life and who became Mrs. Robert Palmer under a romantic Tahitian sky last December 2013. He believed he was the luckiest man alive. Robert was not many things, but he was Robert, our Robert, a one-of-a-kind gift to all of us, to all the world. The family has requested that donations be made to the Orange County United Way in memory of Robert. Orange County United Way 18012 Mitchell South Irvine, CA 92614