Richard Palmer

Richard A. Palmer, 68, passed away peacefully, Thursday, July 31, 2025 with his loving family by his side.

Born in Schenectady NY, Richard Palmer was the son of the late Richard and Joan Palmer. He is survived by his step-mother Joann Palmer.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Deb Reichel, his children, Jamie Reichel and Shane (Samantha) Reichel, his two grandchildren, Taylor Nicklas and Wesley Reichel, and his great granddaughter, Sophia Martin. Also survived by several step-brothers, step-sisters, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Rit bartended in and around Schenectady, NY for 40 years. Kilgores, The Blockhouse, The Grog Shoppe, Sportsworld, Albany Bayou, 20 North Broadway, and Peckham’s Place just to name a few. These establishments often had pool, dart, and softball leagues. Rit participated in all of them. He was well known for pitching in work boots and if in a slump my leopard skin panties for luck. Bull Durham might have had something to do with that. Rit LOVED baseball. His St Louis Cardinals were his favorite team. Bob Gibson, Ozzie Smith, and Albert Pujols were his all time favorite players. His bosses, co-workers, teammates, and patrons became so much more than their labels, they were friends, some life-long. 

Rit was a bartender’s bartender. Everyone would come to see him at the end of their shift to celebrate, commiserate, or swap war stories of the evening. Rit had an eclectic music taste. He would often turn people on to artists never heard of or calm the late night beasts with songs that soothed. Rit was a peacemaker. His hero was Gandhi and he stopped more bar brawls with charm and wit than any big gunned bouncer. Although occasionally, he did like possessing the power to point at someone not smart enough to listen and have them tossed out the door. Rit was one of a kind. 

A great listener, friend, and advice giver. He saw the best in people. If he called you on the phone, it was easily an hour long conversation. He was very detailed, descriptive, and a long-winded story teller. He set the scene, you felt like you were in it. He was a great joke teller. He was honest to a fault. Rit was always ready with quarters in his pocket for pool players. If he saw you coming, your drink would be waiting for you when you walked in the door. He was real. He was sincere. He’s already sorely missed. I have never known anyone like him and I suspect I never will until we meet again. I loved…love him with my entire being. My Philosopher and Poet, my calm, my rock. Wait for me…Te Amo my love.

A visitation will be held on Friday, August 8th, 2025 from 5pm-7:30pm, with a funeral service to be held at 7:30pm at New Comer Cremations & funerals, 343 New Karner Road, Albany.