Dr. Philip D. Martin

He is survived by his children Daniel (Mignon) Martin of Grass Valley, California, Heidi (Jonathan) Martin-Lobel of California, and Heather (Gary) Lobel of West Bloomfield, Michigan; grandchildren Brendon Martin, Nicole Martin, Rachel Martin, Brady Martin, McKenzie Martin, Ian Cox, Nicholas Martin, and Ilanah Lobel-Torres, and a great grandson, Noah. He is also survived by several uncles and cousins.

Philip was born on July 23, 1942 in Marquette, Michigan, son of Francis and Lillian (Lakari) Martin. He began his professional career at Northern Michigan University where he earned a BS degree in chemistry and biology in 1967, and received an MA in chemistry in 1970. In the following years, Dr. Martin earned his PhD in biochemistry from Wayne State University and continued his post doctrinal studies at Michigan State University until 1981. He then completed two years of pharmacy at Ferris State College.

Dr. Martin joined Wayne State University in 1999 where he established himself as a crystallographer and research scientist, maintain a long affiliation with the American Crystallographic Association. He was privileged to travel world-wide and serve on many research projects and has been honored for his ground breaking research in determining the structure of Thrombin. He was also recognized for his paper on molecular dynamics and quantum mechanics, written in collaboration with a renowned quantum mechanic at Wayne State University. In addition to his work at the university, he has contributed to over 60 referred publications. Dr. Martin retired from Wayne State in 2018.

A man of many talents and interests, Dr. Martin was an established actor, and appeared in many local plays throughout his life, including the production of “Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf”. He was well respected in the theatre community, and received the Best Actor of the Year award from the Ann Arbor Press Theatre Guide. Dr. Martin was an amateur Astronomer belonging to the Warren Astronomy Club. He enjoyed hiking and backpacking, even venturing the terrain at Glacier and Yosemite National Parks. He loved to travel, especially on his BMW motorcycle. Possessing a keen sense of humor, and thanks to his daughter, visitors to his house were greeted with a sign announcing his proclamation as Lord Dr. Philip Martin, bestowed upon him by English Royalty.

In honor of his wishes, private family services will be held in Marquette at a later date. Cremation has taken place.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, of which Dr. Martin had lent his expertise.

Arrangements in care of Family Funeral Care, Keego Harbor, Michigan.