Longtime Waterford Town Representative, Labor Leader Dies

WATERFORD, CT — Sharon Palmer, who served on the Waterford Representative Town Meeting and as the commissioner of the state's Department of Labor, died at her home Dec. 4 at the age of 77. Palmer was involved in politics as a member of the Waterford RTM for 23 years, serving on many boards task forces and committees from a local to a national level, according to her obituary.

She left the RTM and was appointed as labor commissioner for the State of Connecticut by former Gov. Dannel Malloy. She retired in 2015 after working for 58 years.

Her daughter, Kerry O'Neill, said the following in Palmer's obituary: "Today the world lost a powerhouse, a woman that was a force to be reckoned with. A person who worked tirelessly for the betterment of our municipality, our state, its people, our Education system, the working people and all that encompasses what is right and just in this world."

She was also a teacher at Clark Lane Middle School and the president of the AFT Connecticut, an AFL-CIO union representing 28,000 teachers and other workers.

Waterford First Selectman Rob Brule wrote on Facebook: "On behalf of the Town of Waterford and those of us who have participated in town committee work or have served on the RTM, I want to express my sincere condolences to Sharon Palmer’s family and loved ones. Sharon volunteered a great deal of time over the years to Waterford and for that, we are grateful as a community. To all of Sharon’s Waterford friends and supporters, please know my thoughts and prayers are with you."