Condolences: Paul Palmer
• UPDATED: We were deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of Paul Palmer, former longtime VP/GM of KFMB (B100)/San Diego, who died on Monday afternoon, the result of a wrong-way collision in Del Mar, CA.
According to an account in the San Diego Union-Tribune, Palmer, 76, of La Jolla, CA, was traveling northbound on Camino Del Mar in Del Mar around 4pm on Monday, Oct. 28, when, for reasons unknown, his Honda CRV swerved into the southbound lanes, sideswiping a Toyota RAV4 before slamming head-on into a Toyota van. Paramedics performed life-saving measures, but Palmer died at the scene, according to the Medical Examiner’s Office.
The two men in the Toyota van suffered major injuries and were transported to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla. The 39-year-old woman in the RAV4 was unhurt. Sheriff’s deputies said alcohol and drugs were not suspected to be factors in the collision.
Palmer was probably best known and loved for his two-decade run as VP/GM of KFMB, followed by a 12-year stint as CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County from 2002-2014. [Photo credit: Jon Clark]
• Bobby Rich (left), who famously programmed B100/San Diego under Palmer’s leadership, called Palmer’s passing, “A loss beyond words, even from people to whom words are our business.” Rich, now one of the principals of Radio Tucson, LLC, which owns Classic Hits KDRI (101.7 The Drive)/Tucson, further commented, “This is a true radio man who understood and respected what makes it work. He was a smart manager always finding the best people and letting them do what they do. When he was done with radio he became a community leader for Big Brothers/Big Sisters in San Diego. He will never be forgotten by anyone who knew him, especially those who had the privilege of working for and with him.”
• Rob Sisco (center), President, North America of SoundOut landed his first radio gig with Palmer and Rich when he was barely 16 years old. In a heartfelt Facebook post, Sisco said, in part, “Paul Palmer was my first radio general manager and the positive lessons he so generously taught me, (and so many others) left indelible marks on not just my career but on my character… Paul taught us to work hard, to be creative, to take risks, to celebrate success and to learn from mistakes. He taught us to be serious but not to take ourselves too seriously to make a plan and work the plan — most importantly he taught us to have fun doing it!”
Sisco added, “Paul will be profoundly missed by all of us lucky enough to have been his teammates. We are heartbroken for Marge, Wendy, PJ and Caroline. In my broken heart though I know that Paul’s true legacy will live on and on in the spirit and wisdom he shared with every life he so lovingly touched.”
• A celebration of Paul Palmer’s life is scheduled for Monday, November 18 — what would have been his 77th birthday.
