Obituary of Georgia White Brandstadter-Palmer

GEORGIA WHITE BRANDSTADTER-PALMER October 2, 1940 – March 31, 2023 Our loving mother, psychologist, and educator Georgia W. Brandstadter-Palmer passed quietly in her sleep in the early morning hours on Friday, March 31, 2023, in the Tampa Bay Florida region after a brief illness.

Georgia W. Brandstadter-Palmer (née Baggett) was born on October 2, 1940, in Mount Vernon, NY and grew up in Briarcliff Manor and Pleasantville, NY. She was the daughter of Llyod Richard and Mary Louise Baggett.

Georgia graduated Briarcliff High School in 1958. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology (1966) from New York University. Georgia went on to earn two postbaccalaureate degrees, a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (1972) and Doctor of Philosophy in Developmental Psychology (1978) both from Stony Brook University.

Georgia had a diverse professional career. She was an elementary school teacher in the New York City school system (1967-1972). Dr Brandstadter-Palmer started her career as a professional psychologist as Project Co-Director at the National ParentsTeachers Association, Chicago (1977-1978) and then as Director of Head Start, The Merrill-Palmer Institute in Detroit (1978-1980). In 1981 Dr Brandstadter-Palmer became a psychologist for the Office of the Public Defender for Pinellas County, Florida working with underage defendants (1981-1985). Starting in 1985 Dr Brandstadter-Palmer became the Chief Psychologist for the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department working with youthful offenders and other prisoners (1985-1996).

In 1996 she unsuccessfully ran, as a democrat, to become the Pinellas County Sheriff.

In 1997 Dr Brandstadter-Palmer started a consulting firm White Eagle Chase and acted as a court appointed or privately retained psychologist for various types of defendants. Often quoted in the local newspaper when Dr Brandstadter-Palmer was involved in high profile cases, she had a robust media presence during her professional career. Georgia occasionally encountered the national media; the most high-profile example was when she was involved in the case of Juanita Maxwell a woman who had multiple personalities while working for the public defender. After Juanita’s initial conviction Dr Brandstadter-Palmer advocated and worked to arrange for a more robust mental treatment for Juanita. Due to the sensational nature of her crimes and punishment Juanita was in much demand with the popular daytime talks shows at the time such as Montel, Geraldo, Oprah, and even 60 Minutes. Dr Brandstadter-Palmer appeared with Juanita on several of these venues.

Academically Dr Brandstadter-Palmer was an active educator throughout her career. She was a visiting lecturer, University of California at Los Angeles (1980-1981), an Adjunct Professor Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida (1989-2000), a Courtesy Assistant Professor at the University Southern Florida, Tampa (1988-2000), and an Instructor at the Florida Institute for Law Enforcement, St. Petersburg, Florida (1988- 2000).

Other professional Activities included Consultant Migrant Education-Human Resources for Random House, Wyoming, Idaho (1975-1976) and Dr Brandstadter-Palmer was on the Advisory Board for Prevention Relapse of Sex Offenders, Pinellas County, FL (1986-1989).

Georgia was a long-time member of the St Petersburg Rotary Club and was the president of the Club in 1994. She was also a member of The Daughters of the American Revolution.

Georgia was married to Martin S. Brandstadter, February 25, 1962 (divorced 1975). Francis Henry Palmer, July 12, 1980 (deceased 1990). Ronald Elroyd Steiner, October 30, 1998.

Georgia is survived by her husband Ronald and Martin, brothers L. Richard and Walter O. Baggett, sister-in-law Lillie M. Shortridge-Baggett, daughter Rebecca A. Peppe (née Brandstadter), son Stephan M. Brandstadter, son-in-law John C. Peppe, daughter-inlaw Stephanie E. Sen, and three grandchildren Christopher J. Peppe, Savannah M. Peppe, & Henry Banks S. Brandstadter.

In Loving Memory

Rebecca A. Peppe & Stephan M. Brandstadter