Attending Reunion 2024!

Class Notes
Class of 1949
Posted on April 18, 2024

“As I plan to attend the Reunion this year, I suppose I should bring classmates and others up to date. After Deerfield, I attended Oberlin College and Harvard Medical School, Interned at the Penna. Hospital in Philadelphia, and did a residency in Internal Medicine at the U. of Chicago. I stayed on there, becoming a Gastroenterologist in the process, for 15 years before moving to New York in ’73. I married Jessie Kindel, of Grand Rapids, in 1960, and we had a daughter Elisabeth (1960) and a son Thomas (1963.) In NY I did research at Rockefeller University and the Columbia College of P & S, and joined Smith, Kline & French in 1985. After several retirements, including after 15 years working for Forest Laboratories in NY, I have now been fully retired for about 7 years.

For those interested in athletics, I was a 3-time All-American Soccer player at Oberlin, and I only recently found out that my Deerfield fellow fullback, Charlie Ufford, was also an All-American soccer player at Harvard! I also was co-captain of the Lacrosse team at Oberlin, and played with the Boston Lacrosse Club during medical school.

Unfortunately, Jessie,, my wife of 60 years, died in 2020 from complications of an bowel surgery. I am comforted by two wonderful children and five grandchildren.

I am still in pretty good shape, considering, and enjoying a very full life. Among other things, I sing with the New Amsterdam Singers in New York. When the time comes, I will move to the Mather, a retirement community in Evanston, Illinois. I look forward to seeing at least a few old friends in June.”

Bob Palmer ’49

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of the Alumni Association?

Upon graduating from Deerfield, alumni enter a diverse network of former Deerfield students. Deerfield alumni have ventured into almost every area of employment, and many are at the top of their respective fields. The advantages of this vast network are numerous and significant, as every member of the Deerfield family receives the following:

Automatic subscription to Deerfield Magazine
Online subscription to the Deerfield Scroll
Access to the Deerfield Mobile App and directory
Invitations to special events both on and off campus
Eligibility for membership in a number of recognition societies

Alumni are also eligible for alumni awards, such as the Ashley Award, Heritage Award, and the Mimi Morsman Award.

As a member of the Alumni Association, do I have dues?

There are no membership fees or dues for members of the Deerfield family, but Deerfield does ask for assistance in a few areas. First of all, in order for Deerfield to have the most up-to-date records possible, we encourage members to keep us apprised of their current contact info. Alumni are also urged to direct all concerns and suggestions regarding Deerfield’s operations through the Executive Committee, the governing body of the Alumni Association. The committee acts as the voice of the alumni body, and works closely with the school administration. In order to keep tuition affordable and the quality of a Deerfield education at its highest, the Academy depends upon the continuing support of alumni and their families. This support can take the form of annual or capital gifts, or time spent volunteering on behalf of Deerfield.

How can I network with other alumni in my area?

There are regional events in many major American cities. Please visit here for more information on regional engagement.

As a Deerfield alum, am I invited to campus athletic events and performances?

Of course! Be sure to read the latest issue of From Albany Road in your email’s in-box for current news of what is happening on campus. As we also send out periodic invitations, it’s always best to make sure we have your current physical address. And if you do plan on visiting campus, why not tell us ahead of time?

Contact the Office of Advancement

alumni@deerfield.edu
413-774-1474

7 Boyden Lane, PO Box 306
Deerfield, MA 01342

7 Boyden Lane, PO Box 87, Deerfield, MA 01342

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS: Deerfield Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.