Dean Edward Palm

Dean Edward Palm, long-time resident of Oberlin, Ohio, passed away peacefully at home on October 24, 2022, in Hardeeville, SC. Dean was born in Circleville, Ohio, on December 9, 1951. He graduated from Wilmington High School in 1970 and studied at the Ohio State University where he obtained his B.A. in Horticulture in 1974.  Dean earned his 32nd Scottish Rite Degree from the Valley of Cleveland in 1995 and he was a 40-year member of LaGrange Masonic Lodge #399.

Prior to his retirement, he worked for 42 years at Green Circle Growers.  A well-liked grower and vendor relations manager for many years, Dean groomed and trained numerous employees and left his mark on all who he met. He made everyone feel welcome, no matter their title or job; everyone was equal in Dean’s eyes.

While at Green Circle, Dean managed the successful intern program in which young horticultural students throughout the world would come to Oberlin, Ohio to spend a year or so training while earning their degrees. Dean would see to it that they were personally picked up (usually by him!) at the airport and transported to Oberlin, where they were housed near Green Circle. He made certain their transition and adjustment to life in America went smoothly, also opening his home to several of the interns. He was very much a father figure to many young international students and remained in touch with many even after his retirement.

Dean was the past president of the Greater Cleveland Flower Growers Association (GCFGA) and proudly served several terms as part of an effort to promote the NE Ohio horticultural industry. He was able to maintain the organization with his steady leadership, even in the face of declining membership. Dean was widely respected by his peers for his dedication to the NE Ohio flower industry and his guiding hand with the GCFGA.

Dean was an avid, lifelong Ohio State Buckeyes fan who loved to grill out on game days.  He enjoyed traveling (especially to Bonaire with his wife), gardening with a great love for the outdoors, shopping on Amazon and spending time with his friends and family, especially his grandchildren. He cherished the relationships he built and spent time abroad, in Holland, visiting two very special interns, Pierre Grootscholten and Peter Rodenrijs. He will be remembered for his dry and witty sense of humor, quiet wisdom and tactful approach to life.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Karen (nee Osborne) Palm; parents, John (“Jack”) and Betty (nee Hoover) Palm; brother, Mark (Susie) Palm; sister, Jackie (Ray) Oleski; stepdaughter, Laura (David) Vojtko; five grandchildren, Ryan (Sarah) Meadows, Rachel, Connor, Lucas and Rustin Stanley; two great-grandchildren Riley and Harper Meadows; niece and nephews, Hannah and Christopher Palm and Spencer and Jonathan (Alicia) Tondreau.

Dean is preceded in death by his stepson, Brian Stanley. To honor Dean’s memory, we will be holding a celebration of life. The date and time will be announced at a later date.