Everett Arthur Palmer Jr.

Everett Arthur Palmer, Jr.
May 17, 1915 – November 12, 2015

Everett Arthur Palmer, Jr. of Pasadena, CA, died peacefully on the morning of November 12, 2015 at the age of 100. His beloved wife, Peg (Margaret Niedringhaus) Palmer, preceded him in passing on April 12, of this year.

Everett, Jr. was born in Elizabeth, NJ to Everett Arthur Palmer, Sr. and his wife Oreta Porter Palmer. Everett, Jr. grew up in New Jersey, Oakland, CA and Pittsburgh, PA earning his Eagle Scout Badge while in high school. In 1935, he graduated from Cornell University, in Ithaca, NY with a B. A. in Civil Engineering and was involved in ROTC, commissioning as a second lieutenant in the Army. Soon after, he enrolled at Harvard Business School, earning his MBA in 1937.
Everett married Margaret (Peg) Niedringhaus on May 31, 1941 in Pittsburgh, PA after meeting her on a ski trip in 1940.

Ev worked at U. S. Steel Company until March 1942, when he was called to active duty in the U.S. Army for World War II. He was transferred to the European Theater of Operations in 1945 where he participated in the liberation of Pilsen, Czechoslovakia from the Nazi forces. After Ev's time in the Army ended in 1946, the couple set their sights on residing in southern California.

Everett resumed work at U. S. Steel in Los Angeles until 1951 when he purchased Forge Die Company in Monrovia, CA, manufacturing forging dies (molds) for heavy equipment, aerospace, and oil field applications. He moved the company to Monterey Park, CA in 1968 and worked there until he retired. Everett was very proud that he helped manufacture the landing gear parts for the Apollo Lunar Excursion Module that landed on the moon. Later, he started Numeric-Machining Company that was an early adopter of computer numerical controlled (CNC) milling machines to mill 3D precision steel tooling. Everett's employees and colleagues often cited his fairness, good judgment and effective leadership.

Everett also owned and operated the Palmer Ranch, founded by his grandfather Joseph H. Porter in the Flint Hills of Kansas. He developed a purebred cattle herd bred specifically for their gentleness and ease of handling. He was known for his conscientious management of the land and livestock. He enjoyed both the hard work and the fun he had there with his family, friends, and colleagues.

Everett and Peg raised their family in Pasadena, CA and both became active in the community there. Everett joined others as a founding board member of the Bank of Pasadena and was an active member of the Valley Hunt Club, the Caltech Athenaeum, the Caltech Executive Forum, Pasadena Rotary Club, Apogee Investment Club and the Waltz Group. Everett greatly valued his Southern California friends from Harvard Business School; they often traveled and socialized together and frequently enjoyed long games of dominoes.

As a lifelong sailor, Everett joined the Newport Harbor Yacht Club where he actively raced sailboats, spending many weekends in Catalina and other local islands. He encouraged and cheered his children's interests in sailing, helping them build and race boats themselves.

Everett was a constant and eager supporter of his wife, Peg, and championed her efforts to establish Pacific Asia Museum at the Grace Nicholson Building in Pasadena. He escorted his family on several trips around Asia and made a hobby of raising cymbidium orchids, which he often provided for openings at the Museum.
Everett and Peg are celebrated by their family. They leave the families of their four children: Everett Palmer III & Rebecca Holt Palmer, Jeffrey Palmer and Joan S. Palmer, Gregory Palmer and Marilyn McCulloch Palmer, and Peggy Palmer Wiley and Wilson Quarre, which include 10 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren.

Donations in memory of Everett and Peg can be made to USC Pacific Asia Museum in honor of their abiding interest and support of the museum.