Eight Bells: Tad Palmer

William Ledyard Palmer III, known as Tad, passed away on January 25, 2026. He was 63 years of age. Born March 27, 1963 in San Rafael, California, he grew up in Newport Beach. From an early age, the water was central to his life.

Tad began sailing at the age of ten in Sabots, eventually moving on to Laser racing with Newport Harbor High School and the Lido Isle Yacht Club. What started as a childhood pursuit became a lifelong discipline.

As a young sailor, he raced aboard his father’s Ron Holland-designed yacht, Shenandoah, competing in major offshore events. In 1983, Shenandoah represented the United States in the Admiral’s Cup in England as part of a three-boat American team that finished third overall and contributed to the U.S. winning the inaugural Champagne Mumm World Cup.He continued to race and crew on a number of well-regarded yachts in the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean through the early 2020s.

Tad was a member of the Newport Harbor Yacht Club from 1977 and later became a member of the Cruising Club of America.

His passion for the sea ultimately shaped his professional life. Tad graduated from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation, launching a career that spanned more than 25 years on the water. He spent seventeen years with Matson, serving first as Chief Officer and later as Captain aboard domestic and international commercial vessels.

Throughout his career, Tad was known as a steady and capable mariner, valued for his judgment and his sense of responsibility at sea. He led crews, managed complex operations, and navigated demanding conditions with quiet competence and professionalism.

Tad married his wife, Shannon Palmer, in a ceremony on the Big Island of Hawaii on October 10, 2003. The family first made their home in Costa Mesa, California, before relocating to Portsmouth, Rhode Island, in 2020.

Tad is survived by his wife, Shannon; his children, Adele (21) and William (19); and his sisters, Betsy Post and Muir Palmer. He was preceded in death by his father William Ledyard Palmer Jr. and his mother Della Critelli Palmer.

Tad valued the relationships in his life-his family and friends, many of whom he knew for decades and remained close to throughout his life. He will be deeply missed.

Source: https://www.memorialfuneralhome.com/obituaries/william-palmer