Donald J. Martin, PhD

    Donald James Martin, PhD., 86, died on Saturday, May 14, 2022 ready to meet his Lord while deeply regretting leaving his best friend and love, his wife of 63 years, Barbara. Their son Scott, a psychologist, once told them they set the marriage -bar so high it became difficult for their sons to match.

     Don hitch-hiked from the South Bronx to Iona College, paying tuition by slinging mail bags at the Post Office. He worked in Container Research at the Campbell Soup Company while getting a Masters Degree from Drexel University. Married and the father of two children, he worked full-time at Mellon Institute while getting his PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh. Don never complained about working hard but appreciated how lucky he’d been to have Dr. Rousseau at Iona teach him how much he didn’t know about chemistry and Dr. Clay Griffin as his doctoral advisor and dear friend. Don worked with two Nobel Prize winners, Dr. Paul Flory and Dr. Paul Lauterbur. This kid from the Bronx even did a year post-doctoral degree in Zurich, Switzerland. After just one year as a Bench Chemist, he moved into management at Stauffer Chemical. Over the course of his career he survived mergers, de-mergers, take-overs and acquisitions, spending countless hours traveling between England and Japan.

     With all his accomplishments, Don remained humble and generous, always aware of his obligation to give back. While living in Wilmington, he was president of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Don joined Activities Unlimited shortly after moving to Wyckoff and served as president for a year.

     Don and Barbara have three sons, Scott, Greg and Eric, each a source of great pride and loving warmth. Their three daughters-in-law, Jelica, Jody and Meg added more joy to his life. His six grandchildren, Dylan, Ethan, Wyeth, Rowen, Finian, and Tiana convinced him grandparenting holds a special joy particularly when each child is so special.

    We would be remiss if we didn’t mention Diane and Jerry, nurse and doctor, sister and brother-in-law always just a phone call away night and day, helpful and loving. Don appreciated all the good friends over the years that he loved and laughed with so often. The Caseys, Capomaggis and Outerbridges made his last months so much easier for him and Barbara, the wife he called perfect. It was the only time he exaggerated in his life.

Friends may visit the family on Friday, May 20, 2022,  1:00 -4:00pm & 7:00 – 9:00pm at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Wyckoff Ave, Wyckoff, NJ.  A funeral mass celebrating Don’s life will take place on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at St. Elizabeth’s Church, 700 Wyckoff Ave Wyckoff, NJ at 10:00 am. Cremation private.   In lieu of flowers, a donation in Don’s name to the American Heart Association would be appreciated. 

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