President of YMCA in Newton Will be Stepping Down

After more than a decade as CEO and President of the West Suburban YMCA Patrick V. Palmer will be retiring in January.

Effective Jan. 24, Palmer will leave the organization which he has helped transform and grow. 

“I truly enjoyed being a member of the West Suburban YCMA family and contributing to its growth and transformation,” noted Palmer. “I will always hold a special place in my heart for many friends and colleagues who I came to know and work with over the past decade.”

The membership of the Y has more than doubled from 3,300 to 8,000, according to an announcement from the YMCA. 

The center in Newton completed a new gymnasium in 2004, and in 2007 an artificial turf playing field and synthetic track was installed. The 101-year-old building also received significant improvements, including a new men’s locker room, family changing rooms, dance and music studios, and a homework/technology center.

Sandra Butzel, Chair of the West Suburban YMCA’s Board of Directors, praised Palmer's accomplishments at the Y.

"Pat was an inspiring leader and full of ideas for growth at the Y. Board members, Y members and staff celebrated one accomplishment after another, many now permanent features of the Y," Butzel said. "I know Pat will bring the same energy and drive to his Foundation, and we wish the very best for Pat and his family."

Along with leading the YMCA, Palmer served on the Board of Directors of the Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce including being Board Chair in 2010 and 2011. He served on the Executive Committee of the Mass Alliance of YMCA’s and was a member of their Child Abuse Protection Commission.

Palmer plans to spend his retirement working on expanding support for the Angela and Patrick Palmer Research Fund for Brain Cancer which the Palmer family established in 2011. The fund supports research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Neuro-Oncology Department and to one day find a cure for the disease that has affected his family and many others.

Mary Kern, who was the Chief Operating Officer of the Y, will serve as interim CEO and president.