Hello Family & Friends:

We are raising funds to place a memorial plaque on an ocean-facing bench in Asbury Park, right in front of Surfer’s Beach. This special spot will be a place for Peter’s family and friends to visit whenever we want to feel close to him. The ocean always brought Pete peace, and it feels right that his memory will live on in a place he loved so much.

If we are blessed to raise more than the cost of the plaque, the additional funds will be donated to Waves of Strength, a local nonprofit founded by a lifelong NJ surfer who wanted to share the healing power of the ocean. They believe deeply in surf therapy and its ability to build confidence, ease stress, and support growth and well-being in young people. Each summer, they host a surf day that Peter’s family and friends can attend together to celebrate his life, his love of the ocean, and the remarkable impact he left on all of us.

Feel free to visit their website: https://www.wavesofstrength.org/about

This bench will not only honor Pete’s memory but also give us a place to reflect, to remember, and to keep his connection to the sea alive. Thank you for helping us create something so meaningful.

The ocean gave Pete peace, and now it will hold his memory forever. Each wave that rises and falls reminds us that he is still with us — steady, strong, and endless like the sea.

The plaque will read as follows:

In Loving Memory of

Peter R. Palmer

Your memory echoes with the waves

10.14.78 - 8.15.25