Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Longtime PCC leader Robert Palmer dies

Photos and Story by Dana Haynes

Robert “Bob” Palmer, one of the founding leaders of Portland Community College, died on Tuesday, April 6, as the result of a long illness. He died surrounded by family members, including Wendy Palmer, PCC district coordinator for Disability Access Services.

Palmer began teaching part-time at PCC in 1961 and was promoted to supervisor of student services in 1964. He was the first dean of the Rock Creek Campus and retired in August 1995 as dean of student support services.

He was not related to the Bob Palmer who sits on the PCC Board of Directors.

In the book “They Just Did It” – the history of Portland Community College – author John Guernsey interviewed Palmer. During the stressful, early days of the college, Palmer had an opportunity to take a job as a principal for a Portland high school. “But I opted to stick with the struggling college and have never been sorry,” Palmer said.

“In the early days of the college there were only about 25 of us staff members,” Palmer said. “All of us would meet in one room from time to time and have a voice in the planning.”

At Palmer’s retirement, founding President Amo DeBernardis wrote, “Bob Palmer was one of the original group who started PCC…. Bob’s commitment to students, his willingness to tack any task assigned to him is what helped build PCC into the institution it is today.”

A celebration of his life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 17, at the Cedar Hills Baptist Church, 2470 S.W. Roxbury. Donations in his name may be made to the Portland Community College Foundation scholarship fund for learning disabilities. Learn more by calling (503) 977-4382.