Richard P. "Mike" Palm, of Scituate and Cohasset, MA, age 86, passed away on Sunday, July 24, 2011 surrounded by his loving family. He was the son of the late Paul A. and Edith (Mylott) Palm. He was the beloved husband of the late Anita Marie (Denish) Palm and the devoted father of Michael P. Palm, Paul J. Palm, Patricia M. Ringler and her husband, Theodore, Kathleen M. O'Donnell and her husband, Christopher, all of Scituate, MA, Richard P. Palm Jr. and his wife, Lorraine, of Abington, MA, Stephen P. Palm of Canton, MA, Jon E. Palm and his wife, Kathie, of Plymouth, MA and the late David M. Palm.  He was also the loving brother of the late Eleanor D. Caterino of Centerville, MA and her husband, Cosmo, who was also his lifelong best friend, and the late Audrey Palm, who died in childhood.  He was loving "Uncle Dick" to his niece and nephews and their wonderful children and families. He was "Grampa" to 18 grandchildren and the great grandfather of 11 adorable great grandchildren.

"Mike" grew up in Watertown and Belmont and spent most of his childhood summers on Nantucket Island. He was a graduate of Belmont High School Class of 1943 and was just recently inducted into the Belmont High School Hall of Fame for his outstanding pitching record and performance while playing baseball, averaging 18 strikeouts per game. He was the recipient of many awards his senior year including the Boston Post All Scholastic Award in 1943, one of the highest honors given in high school baseball at the time. After graduating high school, he joined the Army Air Corps and spent most of his military service abroad in Africa, Europe and India. Being honorably discharged in 1946, he was able to resume his baseball career.

He signed as a pitcher with the Boston Red Sox in the spring of his senior year in high school. He played Class B ball in Roanoke, VA, Double A ball for the Birmingham Barons, Triple A ball for the Louisville Colonels and Major League ball for the Boston Red Sox.

After leaving baseball in 1951, he started a career in the printing business working for several different firms until he started his own corporation, Palm Associates, where he worked until his retirement in the 90's.

"Mike" settled in Scituate, MA 59 years ago with his wife, "Marie", where together they raised their eight children. He enjoyed sports of all kinds, and coached many of his boys' little league teams. He appreciated so much reading a great novel and enjoyed the outdoors. He was an avid fisherman taking many trips to fish the fresh-water lakes of Maine with his life-long friends and family.  He had quite a passion for the game of golf and it soon became the family passion with his family following his lead for the love of the game. He was an early member of Scituate Country Club and an honorary member of Hatherly Country Club in Scituate where he enjoyed many lifelong friendships.

He was very courageous and gallant in his fight with cancer and heart disease over the past decade. He will sadly be missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 at 10 am in St. Anthony Church, 10 Summer St., Cohasset, MA. 02025. Interment Private. Visiting hours omitted.

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