W. Robert MARTIN

MARTIN, W. ROBERT DR. - W. Robert (Bob) Martin of Ottawa, Ontario, passed away at Governor's Walk Retirement Home on Thursday, February 1st at 90 years of age. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Dottie (nee Dorothy MacBride), formerly of St. Stephen, New Brunswick; his three children, Professor Jim Martin (Sue Hood) of Sydney, Australia, Mary Dalman (Dave) of Canmore, Alberta, and Debby Martin (Jeff Broughton) of Uxbridge, Ontario; eight grandchildren, Phoebe, Hamish, Conal (Sydney), Adrienne, Katherine, Julia (Canmore), and Christopher, Mitchell (Uxbridge); and his sister, Mary H. Martin, of Toronto. He was predeceased by his sisters, Jean Brady and Grace Pearsall, and by his parents, Dr. William Howard Martin and Viola Maude Martin (nee Hooper) of Toronto. Dr. Martin was born in Toronto, graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelors degree in Science and a Masters in Biology. He continued his studies at the University of Michigan where he received a PhD in Fisheries Biology. Like many Canadians during WWII, he interrupted his studies to serve his country and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. He worked in the Clinical Investigation Unit on the design of pioneering anti-gravity G-Suits. This involved successful operational trials from British Aircraft in the Mediterranean and North Africa. After his war service, he joined the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, initially at their research station in St. Andrews, New Brunswick as Investigator in charge of Groundfish Studies and later at their headquarters in Ottawa as Assistant Chairman, dealing with research stations all across Canada. During his career he worked with the International Commission for North West Atlantic Fisheries and later on acted as Canadian Commissioner for the International Whaling Commission. He retired from the government in 1976, but continued volunteer work for the Canadian Wildlife Federation and was Chairman of Fisheries Canada. He was well-known for leading a very active life. In his retirement, he pursued his various interests - palaeontology, travel, curling, skiing, swimming, biking, cribbage, children and grandchildren. In his later years, his life-long concern for the environment was an important theme. Accordingly, his family asks that any donations in his memory be made to the David Suzuki Foundation (via the website www.davidsuzuki.org); or telephone 604-732-4228 or 1-800-453-1533; or email kvickers@davidsuzuki.org). Friends may visit at the Central Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 315 McLeod Street, Ottawa on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, February 3 and 4, from 2 to 4 p.m. A Memorial Service will be held in the Chapel on Monday, February 5, 2007 at 1 p.m. Condolences/Donations/Tributes at: mcgarryfamily.ca 613-233-1143 Saturday, February 3, 2007