Dr. Allen Stuart Palmer, a longtime St. Louis OBGYN, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 1, at his home in Clayton. He was 85. He served generations of women with involved, personal care rooted in respect and advocacy.

Dr. Palmer delivered thousands of babies in St. Louis throughout the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s, primarily at Normandy Osteopathic Hospital and Christian Hospital, often before sunrise and sometimes while his own children waited at the hospital. He was deeply committed to women’s health and believed in treating every patient with dignity and respect. He didn’t just practice medicine for women—he stood up for them. He stood up for women’s rights, even jeopardizing his own safety. He was a champion of women and reproductive rights for women in Missouri and Illinois. For decades, he fought tirelessly for women and aptly named his medical practice Women’s Care. He loved to tell people how he marched in Washington during Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, a moment he carried with pride and conviction.

He leaves behind his beloved wife, Diane Palmer (Michler). He is also survived by his children Jordan (Leigh), Scotty (Dana), and Cindi Shore (Palmer), as well as his grandchildren Mallory, Max, Dylan, Jade, Ellie, Jacob, and Katie. He was predeceased by his parents Joe and Minnie, his sister Joyce, and brothers Terry and Richard.

Dr. Palmer was a standout high school athlete, a dedicated professional, and a proud member of the Jewish community. He and Diane were longtime season ticket holders for the St. Louis Blues and Steamers, and previously the Rams, cheering loudly from the stands for decades. Every New Year’s Day, he hosted a long-running party at home where he served homemade steak soup to friends and neighbors, who gathered to share conversation and watch college football on rented projection TVs—before big screens were common.

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Visitation will take place Wednesday, August 6, from 12:15 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Berger Memorial Chapel, 9430 Olive Boulevard in Olivette, followed by the funeral service at 1:00 p.m. A Green Burial will follow at New Mt. Sinai Cemetery. The service will also be livestreamed. Donations in his memory may be made to the St. Louis Jewish Light at stljewishlight.org/donate.

For more information and to view the livestream, visit www.bergermemorialchapel.com

BERGER MEMORIAL SERVICE