Obituary of Albert Palm

SOUTH KORTRIGHT _ Albert Palm, 96, of South Kortright, passed away Wednesday, May 4, 2011, at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital, Oneonta. He was born Oct. 11, 1914, in Hamilton County, to Edward and Fannie Palm. He is survived by his four children and their spouses, Charles and Cora Palm, Beverly and Eric Lawson, Emma Taylor, and Daniel and Linda Palm; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents; his wife of 65 years, Arlene; and his three siblings. Since there were no high schools in the rural area in which Albert grew up, he boarded out, worked for his room and board, attended three different high schools over four years, and graduated from Holland Patent High School. He received bachelor and master degrees from Cornell University. He taught vocational agriculture and industrial arts at the West Leyden, Greene and Remsen schools. He came to South Kortright Central School in 1945, and retired from teaching there in 1963. While at South Kortright Central School, he completed the school bus driver program and often drove bus as a substitute. In response to the Cold War and following training in Civil Defense Management, including Bomb Shelter Management and completion of a Radiological Defense Officer Course at Cornell University, Albert began a career in Civil Defense Management and taught courses throughout New York State. One requirement of those taking his course was to spend an extended period of time with Albert in a makeshift fallout shelter learning to survive under those conditions. In 1966, Albert was one of 17 persons selected by the State Education Department to be trained to expand vocational education in the state. After spending a semester at Oswego College, he returned to Delaware County where he supervised the purchase of land, the construction and the equipping of the Northern Catskill Occupational Center, and also the hiring of faculty for the Center. He served as director of the Occupation Center for five years before retiring. In 1971, Albert was appointed "Clerk of the Works" and oversaw the construction of the addition and alterations to the South Kortright Central School building. Albert was a member of the Church of the Most Precious Blood in South Kortright and the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Stamford. He was a member of Rotary International for many years and was named a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of his significant contributions to the organization. In 1962, he was awarded the Honorary American Farmer Degree for outstanding teaching in vocational agriculture. He was a certified instructor for the Hunter Safety Training Program and a 15-year 4-H Club leader. Albert loved to fish and hunt deer and turkeys with bow and rifle. He bagged his last buck at the age of 88. He was also an avid bridge player. He loved the card game Pitch and spent many happy hours playing until he was 94. Albert's childhood was lived in the rural and rugged Adirondacks where snowshoes were a common means of transportation. In 1934, during his junior year, while on Christmas break from Cornell University, an American Airlines Curtiss Condor plane slammed into a tree on Wilder Mountain during a blizzard. Albert, along with his two uncles and six other local men, strapped on their snowshoes and set out to rescue those on board the plane. It took 2 1/2 days to locate and bring to safety the four men who had survived subzero temperatures, dressed in street clothes, and huddled inside a tent made from some of the plane's canvas skin. Albert received a check for $25 from American Airlines as a token of the company's appreciation for his heroic work _ and was invited to meet with then N.Y.S. Governor Lehman and other government officials in recognition of his valor. Calling hours will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 6, 2011, at the MacArthur Funeral Home in Hobart. The funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7, 2011, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Stamford, with the Rev. Michael G. Cambi officiating, followed immediately by the burial in the Sacred Heart Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Community Food Pantry at Sacred Heart Church, 13 Harper St., Stamford, NY 12167. Arrangements are with the MacArthur Funeral Home, Hobart.