James Frederick Palmer, 57, born April 28, 1960 in Lake Forest, Illinois, died peacefully at home on Balboa Island, Newport Beach, CA, as a result of the progression of brain cancer on February 3, 2018.Born to Robert and Dorothy (Bauer) Palmer, Jim was the youngest of four children.

He is survived by his loving family including daughter Merielle, mother "Debbie" of Naples, FL; brother L. Guy and wife Moira, of Frederick, MD; sister Robin, of Vernon Hills, IL; brother Ford and wife Anne, of Lake Forest, IL; nieces Ali and Kelly; nephews Ryan, Cale and wife Farrah, Justin and Michael; godson Dylan Rooney; former spouse Jean Billyou of Laguna Beach, CA; and dear and faithful friends in Orange County, CA, Honolulu, HI, Chicago, IL, Chatham, MA and ports elsewhere.

A graduate of Lake Forest High School, Jim received his B.A. from St. Lawrence University; his M.S. in Biological Oceanography from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa; and his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Virginia.Jim received a patent related to his chemistry research and until recently he was a consultant in the field of pharmaceutical development and patent writing.

Jim lived life to the fullest.He took advantage of every opportunity for adventure and passed that spirit on to those who knew him.He was an avid waterman, enjoying free diving, SCUBA diving, spear fishing, lobstering, sailing and whale watching.He flew glider aircraft and loved BMW motorcycles and cars.Jim was happiest sharing his love of the outdoors with his daughter, recounting to her his tales of boyhood adventures with his family's menagerie of horses, dogs, cats and sheep in Lake Forest, playing soccer and racing bikes with his childhood friends; his salad days as a currency trader at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange; and his exploits in, on and under the oceans with all manner of creatures aquatic, terrestrial or aerial.Jim was also a talented woodworker, designing and crafting his daughter's cradle as well as several other heirloom pieces, each with exquisite attention to detail.

During his father's final illness, Jim assisted in his care in Chatham and made it a goal at that time to walk the entire length of the Cape Cod National Seashore.Completed in segments, he found peace through that effort.

As an expression of sympathy, if and as desired by friends, memorial contributions may be made to their preferred charities.

When the warmth of summer arrives, the family will celebrate Jim's life in Chatham, Cape Cod and spread Jim's ashes on his beloved Nantucket Sound.