Remembering businesswoman and Jasmine philanthropist Linda Palmer

Family and friends of the late Linda Palmer, including US Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, are set to gather in Cayman on Valentine’s Day to celebrate the life and legacy of the businesswoman and philanthropist.

Palmer, the wife of former politician Burns Rutty, passed away at the age of 78 on 14 Oct., following a two-year battle with cancer.

Recounting the day he first met Palmer, Rutty said, “It was by chance that we met in December of 1987 at a Miami Dolphins football game. The Dolphins beat the Washington Redskins, as they were known back then, but the real victory for me was winning Linda’s heart, and I guess you can say the rest is history.”

Attention to detail

Palmer, who is originally from the US, was the first child and only daughter of New York businessman Kenneth Johnson and Ann Johnson, a delegate for the US President Dwight Eisenhower.

“Growing up, Linda was greatly influenced by her parents,” said Karie Bergstrom, as she read Palmer’s life story in a remembrance service held on 30 Oct. last year.

“Linda clearly inherited her mother’s fashionista reputation and love of beautiful things,” added Bergstrom. “Her father, a successful businessman, instilled an entrepreneurial spirit and business sense in Linda that she carried with her throughout life.”

Bergstrom recalled how Palmer’s love for business caused her to don the uniform of her husband’s restaurant and join the staff as they processed orders, so she could understand the business and help it grow.

“When it comes to business, her mind was as sharp as a tack,” said Rutty. “That’s why she was entrusted as the project manager when we opened the Comfort Suites Hotel in 2002. Not only did she deliver the project on time, but her attention to detail also impressed all the board members – myself included.”

Outside the boardrooms and big deals, Palmer was also known for her parties, which at times doubled as fundraising and networking events.

Largest single fundraiser for Jasmine

She was passionate about Jasmine, the non-profit end-of-life-care facility that focusses on terminally ill patients.

“Each year, we have our annual ‘Flag Day’ collection drive, which is a time when our volunteers take to the streets, supermarkets and shopping centres to collect spare change and donations,” said Felicia McLean, director of operations and nursing at Jasmine. “Linda would not take to the streets, because that wasn’t her style. Instead, she would put on her Jasmine shirt, and sit next to her phone from her home in Kaibo and call all her friends.”

McLean explained that, the following day, Palmer would return with lots of cheques.

“In her final days, Jasmine helped to care for Linda,” said Rutty, who added that his wife’s outlook was that she wasn’t going to die with cancer, instead she would live with it.

The final farewell

“Linda loved to travel, especially during the summers,” said Rutty. “But her favourite holiday was Valentine’s Day, so after 35 years of marriage, I will get a chance to say goodbye to her with the support of her friends and family on the day she loved most.”

At the time of her death, Cayman’s travel restrictions meant Palmer’s US family and friends were unable to attend the remembrance service. So now, Rutty said, a special ceremony has been planned to enable those who were unable to attend in October to pay their respects and remember Palmer in person.

Palmer’s and Tenney’s parents were from the same New York neighbourhood and both were closely associated with Eisenhower’s presidential campaign, Rutty explained. That political affiliation of their families sparked a friendship between the two women that continued into their adult years.

“I’m grateful that Linda’s life-long friend US Congresswoman Claudia Tenney is taking time out of her current campaign to come to Cayman to celebrate Linda’s life with us,” said Rutty. “I am sure Linda would have been felt honoured and grateful as well.”