He was born in Chatham, New Jersey on May 31, 1929. Val joined the United States Navy after completing high school. There he flew Corsair and F8F planes off the Oriskiny and the Coral Sea aircraft carriers out of NAS Cecil Field. After serving for four years, he went on to continue his education. Val graduated from MIT and received a Bachelor's of Science in Business and Engineering Administration. After graduation, he moved to New York City to work for the New York Daily News. Through a lot of hard work, he then became the Vice President of the paper. In 1974-1975 he attended the Harvard Advanced Management program. Then in 1978, he moved to Illinois to work at the Chicago Tribune and in 1980 he became President/CEO of Alco Gravure in New Jersey.
Val had a true passion for golf. He was a member of the International Senior Golfers Association along with memberships at many golf clubs. One of his favorite things to do throughout his life was to travel to different parts of the United States and Internationally. Nothing made him happier than when he could spend time with his family or eat a good bowl of ice cream.
In his generous contributions, he was a founding member of the Jacksonville Chapter of Legatus, member of the Founders Society of Duke University and enthusiastic supporter and benefactor of the Jacksonville Symphony, Our Lady Star of the Sea Church and Palmer Catholic Academy.
People that knew him would say that he was a classy, sophisticated, upright guy. He was a true gentleman with honest business sense and trust in a word. Faith, family, and helping others were values he carried with him and instilled in those he loved.
He is survived by his sister Gerda Ceremsak, children Glenn Palmer (Shannon), Karen Palmer Haines (Philip), Mary Palmer Taylor (Fitzhugh); and grandchildren Erin Haines Vu (Phong), Michelle Haines Martino (Nick), Bridget Haines, Sean Palmer (Savannah), Molly Palmer Johnson (Bryce), Corey Palmer, Oliver Taylor, Campbell Taylor, and Margaret Taylor. He was also blessed with 6 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beautiful wife of 56 years Evelyn Frances Palmer, his son Valfrid Joseph Palmer and infant brother Glenn Palmer. Catholic Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am on February 18, 2021, at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Ponte Vedra Beach. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be sent to the North Florida Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
All arrangements are handled by Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home Jacksonville Beach.
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