It's been a difficult year in the Kingdom.
Milfred Jerome "Jerry" Palmer, Jr., the younger brother of golf great Arnold Palmer, died Saturday in Pittsburgh, less than two months after golf's recognized "King" passed away in the same University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Jerry Palmer, 72, and 15 years Arnold's junior, had suffered a stroke several years ago and was battling dementia.
Until a short time ago, Jerry, the third of four children, had been general manager at Latrobe Country Club and maintained an office in the same simple cottage that served as his brother's summer headquarters in Pennsylvania. Like Arnold, Jerry Palmer grew up at Latrobe, but found the game frustrating while his brother flourished.
He idolized Arnold and never begrudged him his immense success and popularity, telling Kingdom Magazine that he "couldn't think of a single burden" to being Arnold Palmer's younger brother.
"I’m really a very lucky man,” he said in the same story published in 2012. “Sure, I wish my golf game was better. My brother’s made a lifelong project out of me, but I always tell people the Palmers already have one fine golfer in the family.”
Among those surviving Jerry Palmer are his two sisters, Lois Jean Tilley and Sandy Sarni. Funeral services were scheduled for noon Tuesday in Latrobe.
The best of Golf Digest delivered daily
Sign UpWill be used in accordance with our PRIVACY POLICY