Born in England, Mr. Palin joined the Canadian National Railways as an apprentice electrician in 1918. In 1939, after twenty-one years with the CNR he entered the field of education to assist in the training of radar technicians for the Armed Forces.

He was responsible for the development of a School of Electronics in 1944 which became the forerunner of the Ryerson Institute and was an original member of the Ryerson staff, following incorporation of the Toronto based Institute on September 1, 1948. Mr. Palin served as Director of Electrical and Electronic Technology and Radio and Television Arts at the Ryerson Polytechnical Institute until 1958, working as Executive Assistant to the Principal.

In 1961, Eric Palin transferred to the Department of Education as Technical Training Specialist, rising to Assistant Superintendent of the Technological and Trades Training Branch in 1963 and Associate Director of the Applied Arts and Technology Branch in 1966, retiring in 1968.

Whilst at Ryerson, Mr. Palin was instrumental, among many other things, in obtaining a student residence and in planning its renovation, for which it is named "Palin Hall".

Mr. Palin was a Senior Member of IEEE, Past General Chairman of the Canadian IEEE Conference and Exposition, Editorial Consultant - IEEE Student Publications, and Past Chairman of the Toronto Section. He was a member of the Canadian Radio Technical Planning Board and active in the Electronics Industries Association as well as the American Society for Engineering Education.

In 1967 Mr. Palin received a citation from the President and Council of the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario, commending him for his personal contributions to the profession in that Province.

Mr. Palin died on January 11, 1971.