On March 10, the body of a man was discovered on the rocks below the Green Bridge. He was subsequently identified as Douglas Palmer, 55, a resident of Topsham. He was also my friend and the friend of literally hundreds of people in our community.

So many of us are grieving his loss. I have heard so many similar words to describe Doug — sweet, gracious, a gentleman, a gentle man, to mention only a few. Doug suffered from a condition that was similar in its appearance to Parkinson’s. He was also a gifted artist. Doug’s drawings and paintings can be found in several places around town, but in recent times the tremors caused by his condition made him unable to pursue his art. He made up for this by teaching others, as a volunteer, at The Gathering Place, The Learning and Recovery Center, and at Spectrum Generations.

Doug was also a poet and a very talented gardener. He knew the Latin names for an astonishing variety of plants. He was the guiding spirit of the gardens at Mid Coast Hunger, and at The Learning and Recovery Center.

But more, far more important than what Doug did is who he was — and is still to many of us.

I first met Doug at The Gathering Place, where I volunteer. I found him to be the sweet, gentle and gracious person so many of us would like to be. We all learned from him, more than we can ever describe.

Even more saddening, Doug’s death was reported as just another sensational story. Doug was homeless at times during his life, although not recently. His life resembled the life of many homeless folks: ignored, feared or shunned by the mainstream world.

Doug didn’t drive. He walked everywhere. He had just enough to get by.

His heroism was of the quiet variety.

Except to the hundreds of us who knew and loved him, he lived on the margins of society, overlooked by the mainstream.

And from the cursory tone of the reports of his death, the real story of Doug Palmer was overlooked in death, as well.

He deserves so much more.

Chick Carroll
Topsham