CAPE ELIZABETH – William J. “Bill” Palin, a longtime resident of Cape Elizabeth, died Dec. 8, 2025, from complications of Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

Born in Boston, Mass. to Bridget (Hull) and Calixte Palin, he and his siblings were raised as army brats. He spent his preschool years in Germany and when his family returned stateside, he entered kindergarten as a German speaker. For the next few years, his family moved from post to post along the east coast and Bill was fortunate enough to spend his high school years in Hawaii when his father was stationed at Fort Schafter. In Hawaii, Bill honed his life-long interest in photography. Upon returning to the mainland, Bill, along with his brother John, enrolled at Providence College.

After graduation, Bill enlisted in the Army and was ultimately stationed with the 6th U.S. Army Medical Laboratory at Fort Baker in Sausalito, Calif. Here he contributed to the Army’s medical research, studying viruses of human and veterinary significance and developing viral vaccines. This experience set Bill on his career path, earning his PhD in Microbiology at the University of Minnesota. He then continued his training as an NIH-funded postdoctoral fellow at UCLA.

Bill entered the biomedical technology field as a senior scientist at Abbott Laboratories in North Chicago and worked at a number of biotech companies during his career, including Idexx, Alere, and Binax in Maine. His work centered on developing rapid diagnostic techniques for infectious agents and toxins that impact humans, animals, plants, and the environment. The holder of multiple patents, he was a creative, innovative, and interdisciplinary scientific thinker. He believed strongly in sharing his scientific passion and knowledge with others. Outside the lab, he found great satisfaction in applying his science to cooking and baking. Bill mentored many younger scientists and was always willing to help someone think something through. Many budding as well as seasoned scientists (and a few non-scientists) across the U.S. and abroad were the recipients of papers from the scientific literature signed “FYI, Bill”. His commitment to the expansion of the biotechnology industry and scientific education in Maine led him to serve on the biotechnology review board for the Maine Biotechnology Institute, the Advisory Board for the Applied School of Engineering and Technology at USM, and as a member of the Board of Trustees at the Foundation for Blood Research.

Bill is survived by his wife Karen of Cape Elizabeth; his daughter Amy (Josh Sohn) of Washington, D.C., his son, Michael (Catherine) of Arlington, Va.; and three grandchildren, Benjamin and Adam Sohn, and Margaret Palin. He also leaves his sister, Susan Butler, and sisters and brothers-in-law, Denise Gamelin (Mark), James Anklan, and Greg Anklan (Nancy); as well as many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews, friends and colleagues.

Bill was predeceased by his parents; parents-in-law; and his brother, John.

A celebration of Bill’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 22, 2026, at the Spurwink Church in Cape Elizabeth, with burial following at Riverside Cemetery, adjacent to the Spurwink Church. The family invites shared remembrances on https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/ESSMrLjz.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Bill’s honor to the Earl E. Bakken Medical Devices Center at the University of Minnesota Medical School to support the education and creative work of students exploring innovation in biomedical technology, or a donation to a charity of donor choice.