William "Tad" Palmer

(William Ledyard Palmer III)

March 27, 1963 - January 25, 2026

Tad was born in San Rafael, California, and 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 the 1981 Transpacific Yacht Race-one of the fastest on record-Shenandoah finished fourth in class and seventh overall, and later placed third in the San Francisco Big Boat Series. 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.

Tad also raced with friends Doug Ayres and Skip Allen aboard their yachts Skylark and Wildflower, compeRng in numerous races including the Transpacific Yacht Race and the Cabo San Lucas Race. In 2002, he was recognized by the Newport Harbor Yacht Club for his sportsmanship and achievement as a crew member aboard Wildflower, where he helped win the Double-Handed Class of the Pacific Cup-an acknowledgment that reflected both his skill and the respect he earned within the sailing community. 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 beginning in 1977, when he joined as a junior member, and later became a member of the Cruising Club of America.

His passion for the sea ulRmately shaped his professional life. Tad graduated from the Massachuseas MariRme Academy in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine TransportaRon, launching a career that spanned more than twenty-five years on the water. He spent seventeen years with Matson, serving first as Chief Officer and later as Captain aboard domesRc and internaRonal 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 operaRons, and navigated demanding condiRons 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 relocaRng to Portsmouth, Rhode Island, in 2020. Together, Tad and Shannon raised two children, Adele, born November 23, 2004, and William, born November 16, 2006, who were the center of his life. He was a devoted father, and his pride in Adele and William was clear to those who knew him. Tad loved his family greatly, including their beloved German Shepherd, Bear.

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.