The Story of Josh Palmer

Early Years and Athletic Foundation

Josh Palmer grew up in Elmira, New York, where sports were a way of life. Football in the fall, basketball in the winter, baseball in the spring — he belonged on a field, a court, a diamond. He loved competing, working, improving, and most of all, being part of a team.

At Southside High School, Palmer became a three-sport standout. A 1998 graduate, he earned nine varsity letters in football, basketball, and baseball. He was a three-time All-STC selection in baseball and earned All-STC honors in football as a senior.

Football opened major doors for him. Josh played wherever needed — defensive back, running back, punt returner — and during his senior year he was named Southside’s Defensive Player of the Year, along with All-Section and All-Twin Tiers recognition.

In basketball, he helped lead Southside to the STC Championship. In baseball, his dependability earned him All-STC honors three years in a row.

Coaches remembered him for more than ability — they remembered leadership, character, and presence.

Basketball coach Bill Limoncelli said:

“Josh was a dedicated and fierce competitor. He thrived on teamwork, carried himself with confidence, and had leadership that inspired everyone around him.”

Football coach Ron Norman echoed:

“Josh’s dedication and leadership made him a favorite among his teammates and coaches. He had the work ethic and determination you look for in every athlete. He wasn’t just good at one sport—he excelled in all of them because he refused to be outworked.”

After graduating in 1998, Palmer continued his academic and athletic career at Alfred University, playing college football and building toward what looked like a promising future.

A Bright Future Cut Short by a Diagnosis

Josh’s freshman year at Alfred University went well. He was 19 years old, adjusting to college, playing football, and settling into a routine that felt promising. Fatigue, night sweats, and some weight loss showed up gradually, but at the time they were easy to chalk up to the demands of being a student-athlete.

Then something unexpected happened.

While driving home for spring break, Josh and his brother Pat hit snowy conditions on the highway near Painted Post, New York, and were involved in a car accident. Fortunately, both walked away — Pat without injury, and Josh with bruising that ran from his ankle to his chest.

The next morning, Josh went outside to shovel his parents’ driveway and sidewalk. That's when things didn’t feel right anymore. He had trouble with basic movement and struggled noticeably to get up the stairs — something that hadn’t been an issue before.

His mother, Mary, saw the change clearly. Thinking the difficulty might be related to the crash, she insisted he get evaluated by a doctor.

The results showed it was something much more serious.

Josh was diagnosed with late-stage Hodgkin’s disease, a cancer of the lymphatic system. The tumor in his chest was described by his oncologist, Dr. Rose Byland, as:

“at least two-thirds the circumference of the chest wall—roughly the size of a small football.”

But from the first moment forward — Josh did not face it alone. Mary and Jim stood by him through every appointment. Mentor and coach Bill Limoncelli and Mike Cerasuolo were beside him in hospital rooms, reminding him who he was: a competitor, a teammate, a fighter.

Cancer changed his direction — but it did not take away his resolve.

The Battle Begins: Chemotherapy, Radiation, and a Fight for Life

Treatment began immediately — months of chemotherapy and radiation that challenged him more than any opponent ever could.

His body changed rapidly. The strong frame he built through years of training faded away. He lost more than 50 pounds, dropping to 119 lbs at his lowest. Sleep came in waves. Nights ended under blankets, shivering. Food tasted metallic. His appetite nearly disappeared.

He later admitted:

“I was scared to death. I remember thinking, I don’t know how many more days I’ve got left,” he said.

Yet through it all — he stayed in school. He completed freshman year at Alfred with a GPA above 3.0, and while undergoing treatment, continued academics at Elmira College. School became a lifeline — a piece of his identity cancer could not steal.

Through every setback and sleepless night, his focus held steady:

Survive — and if life allowed, step back on a football field again.

Creating a Support System: Forming a Group for Young Adults

During treatment, Josh noticed something heartbreaking — support groups existed, but not for people his age. Young adults had no space, no peers, no shared experience to lean on.

With the encouragement of his parents and coach Limoncelli, Josh helped create the Josh Palmer Support Group for Young Adults with Cancer.

It started with just three young people talking openly about treatment, pain, fear, and hope. It grew to 10–12 regular members, all finding strength — not in being cancer patients, but in being seen, understood, and not alone.

Then came a staggering discovery:

More than 40 Southside High School students had been diagnosed with cancer since 1979 — including 13 cases in just three years.

Josh realized his battle was not an isolated story — it was a community burden.

From that realization, the Josh Palmer Fund was created — not as a foundation of tragedy, but as a foundation of hope.

What began from Josh’s own fight soon became a lifeline for countless families across the Twin Tiers.

A Community United in Hope and Action

What began as a small support circle has grown into a regional movement of compassion, strength, and action.

The Josh Palmer Fund thrives today through community-driven athletic traditions:

JP Fund Basketball Tournament — gyms packed, energy high, purpose bigger than the score
100-Inning Baseball Game — a marathon of endurance led by legendary Coach Jeff Limoncelli
Pigskin Classic at Mansfield University — founded by Steve McCloskey, Coach Joe Gilbert, and Coach Mike Cerasuolo •
Annual Golf Tournament — community, camaraderie, remembrance, impact

These events are not just games — they are survival. They are support. They are hope.

To date, the fund has provided nearly $2 million in direct financial assistance to families undergoing cancer treatment.

Josh’s story has reached far beyond New York — featured by USA TODAY, NCAA.com, and numerous media outlets. His strength continues to resonate through one line that defines him:

“You can go to hell and back, but you can also come back stronger.”

The Josh Palmer Fund proves those words true every single day.

A Remarkable Return: From Diagnosis to Graduation

2000 – The Comeback

In the spring of 2000, Mansfield Head Coach Joe Gilbert reached out with an opportunity — return to football and help rebuild the program in the PSAC.

It wasn’t just football — it was proof that the dream wasn’t over.

After cancer stripped his body down to 119 lbs, Josh fought relentlessly to rebuild, consuming 4,000–6,000 calories a day, training, lifting, sprinting — determined to return to 180 lbs and a set of shoulder pads.

Even more meaningful, he reunited with former Alfred coach Mike Cerasuolo, now Mansfield’s offensive coordinator — a mentor who stood with him through diagnosis and recovery.

In 2000, Josh Palmer returned to the field as a defensive back and punt returner.

He wasn’t the biggest.

He wasn’t the fastest.

But he was the toughest.

2001–2002 – A Crushing Knee Injury

Just as the dream accelerated, fate struck again.

During the 2001 spring game, he tore his ACL, MCL, and cartilage — a devastating blow. Doctors recommended surgery, likely ending his career.

Josh refused to quit. He rehabbed. He fought. He returned for camp — defying expectation once again.

As Mansfield SID Steve McCloskey said:

“He just flabbergasts people with the things he overcomes.”

Then, during a routine, non-contact drill, his knee collapsed a second time. This time, his playing career truly ended.

Josh later reflected:

“It was a lifelong dream of mine to play college football. I had achieved that, and then it was taken from me. I recognized then that playing football was a privilege and not a right.”

Transition to Coaching

Head Coach Chris Woods refused to let the final chapter be injury. He named Josh defensive backs coach, ensuring his role remained one of leadership and presence.

Woods said:

“I know Josh really loves the game of football. I didn’t want his last experience in college to be him lying on the ground, injured.”

Josh coached with the same heart he once played with — mentoring players, motivating teammates, shaping young men through resilience.

2002 Graduation & Giving Back

In 2002, Josh graduated from Mansfield University with high honors, earning a degree in secondary education — a victory of survival, dedication, and strength.

He went on to coach and teach, immediately giving back:

- Defensive line coach at Elmira Notre Dame under the great Mike D’Aloisio
- Later head JV basketball coach under Limoncelli

2004 – Full-Circle Moment

In 2004, Josh was chosen to succeed Hall of Fame coach Bill Limoncelli as varsity basketball coach at Southside — taking over for the man who shaped him as both athlete and person.

For Josh, coaching was never about wins — it was about giving back.

From student-athlete, to survivor, to coach, mentor, advocate, and leader —

Josh Palmer is living proof that courage, community, and faith can turn the hardest battles into purpose.

A Community Leader and Advocate

Today, Palmer is not only a successful businessman—serving as President and Managing Partner at Swan Morss Insurance, part of The Dunn Group—but also a passionate community advocate. He serves on multiple boards, including the Elmira City School District Board and the Chemung County Sports Hall of Fame. He remains deeply involved in fundraising efforts, speaking engagements, and supporting local youth and cancer initiatives. Palmer resides in Elmira, New York, with his wife Kelly—who is principal at Pine City Elementary School—and their three boys: Michael, Luke, and Logan.

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Recognition and Awards

A Community Leader and Advocate

Palmer’s inspiring journey has earned him numerous awards, including the prestigious Ernie Davis Courage Award, the American Cancer Society Volunteer of the Year, and induction into both the Chemung County Athletic Hall of Fame and the Elmira City School District Athletic Hall of Fame. Additionally, on December 28, 2024, Senator Tom O’Mara and City of Elmira Mayor Dan Mandell declared December 28th as “Josh Palmer Day” in the City of Elmira. His story exemplifies how adversity can be transformed into a force for good.

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A Legacy of Hope and Resilience

A Community Leader and Advocate

A Legacy of Hope and Resilience

Palmer’s story stands as a powerful testament to the transformative power of hope, community, and resilience. From a gifted young athlete excelling in football, basketball, and baseball, to a cancer survivor and unwavering advocate, his journey proves that even in our darkest hours, hope can illuminate the path to a brighter future. Today, the very same waiting room at Falck Cancer Center where he once sat in uncertainty is now named in honor of the Josh Palmer Fund—an enduring symbol of the compassion, dedication, and hope that have brought strength, comfort, and healing to countless others in need.

His message remains simple but profound: “Until no one on Earth has cancer, the Josh Palmer Fund will be there.” His life continues to inspire countless individuals, reminding us all that strength, compassion, and community can overcome even the most daunting challenges.

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