Holyoke, MA – John D. “Jack” Palmer, 93, died on December 29, 2025, at the Veterans Home in Holyoke, Massachusetts after a long illness. Born on May 26, 1932, in Chicago, Illinois, he was the only child of Florence Eley and John Palmer. He is survived by his wife, Carla, and his son, John C. Palmer.
Jack served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955, stationed at Camp Stewart, Georgia, and later with the infantry in Korea. After completing his military service, he pursued higher education, earning a bachelor’s degree from Lake Forest College, followed by a master’s degree in 1959 and a Ph.D. in 1961 from Northwestern University. In addition to support from the GI Bill, he worked his way through college and graduate school. As an undergraduate, he washed dishes and windows, and during summers he served as a counselor to boys who were wards of the court, leading canoe trips through lakes in Minnesota and Canada. While in graduate school, he worked as a teaching assistant and tutored members of the football team in biology. Awarded a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellowship, Jack spent 1963–64 at the University of Bristol in England.
A dedicated scientist and educator, Jack’s lifelong research focused on circadian rhythms and how organisms tell time. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, received the Sigma Xi Award for Distinguished Research, and was invited to speak at institutions and conferences worldwide. Jack was a member of the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. He taught and conducted research at the University of Illinois and New York University before joining the University of Massachusetts, where he served from 1974 to 1999 as Chair of the Biology Department and later as Professor Emeritus. His many scholarly writings included research publications, and six books including a college level biology textbook.
Outside the classroom, Jack was an avid fisherman, traveler, and nature lover. His worldwide travels often included birdwatching, at which he was highly knowledgeable. A gifted storyteller, he delighted friends and family with tales of his adventures. His life was one of service, discovery, and joy in learning, and his influence endures in the many students, colleagues, and friends he inspired.
Burial will be private. Memorial donations may be made to Doctors Without Borders or to a charity of one’s choice.
Click here to sign the guest book or honor their memory with flowers, donations, or other heartfelt tributes