Summer 2000

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Professor Theodore Paine "Ted" Palmer died April 17 at the age of 93. He was a professor of mathematics at Rose-Hulman for 37 years prior to his retirement in 1974.

Prior to teaching at Rose-Hulman, he worked as an editorial assistant for Webster’s New International Dictionary, and he was an assistant professor of mathematics at Macalester College in Minnesota. He began his Rose-Hulman career in 1937.

During his tenure at Rose-Hulman, Palmer was an instructor of mathematics and was appointed chairman of the mathematics department, a post he served for more than 10 years. He was instrumental in establishing the Waters Computing Center, where he served as director from 1959 to 1962. He was director of special programs from 1964 until 1974. In recognition of his dedication to excellence in undergraduate mathematics, the Department of Mathematics established the "Theodore Paine Palmer Award for Excellence in Mathematics for freshmen.

Palmer held a bachelor of arts in mathematics and physics from Amherst and a master’s degree in mathematics from Harvard. He received an honorary doctorate from Rose-Hulman in 1983. He was a delegate to the International Congress of Mathematics in 1950, 1958 and 1962. He co-authored "The Equation", which was published in 1956.

Palmer also was a retired major in the Army reserves. During World War II, he served with the OSS, the forerunner of the CIA. After the war, he served with the 5th U.S. Army Intelligence School from 1952-60.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Edith Pickering Palmer. Survivors include his wife, Margaret Moy Palmer; and two stepsons Jerry Stidman and James Stidman.