Washington - Our beloved Uncle Don passed away at home in January, just a few weeks short of his 93rd birthday. He was "flabbergasted" that his always strong heart failed him "so soon". He had reason to expect more time; as Member 24 of the Cascade Bicycle Club, he was leading rides as recently as Summer 2019. He clocked many miles with the Cascade Geezers, the Boeing Employees Bicycle Club, the BIKES Club of Snohomish County, and more. He also created the Share The Road special design license plate as a fundraiser for Cascade and proudly displayed plates BK 0001 and BK 0002 on his cars.

Don was born in Spokane, the grandson of the well-to-do president of the Spokane Brewing Company. Prohibition and the Great Depression took their toll on the family fortunes, and his family moved to a more modest life in Yakima. After graduating from WSU in architecture and engineering he started his career with firms in Moses Lake and Seattle, until he took on the first of his many life adventures and moved to Manhattan to work for the prestigious international architectural firm, SOM. Returning to the Northwest, he secured a position at Seattle's premier architectural firm, NBBJ. He specialized in medical facilities, acting as project architect on the Fred Hutchinson Center, Children's Orthopedic and Group Health expansions, and Clark Air Force Base Hospital in the Philippines. He completed his career as Senior Facilities Engineer at the University of Washington, managing maintenance and construction of all campus buildings, and became a devoted UW football season ticket holder. Knowing that three generations of his male relatives died at age 71, he retired at age 60.

Don had travelled throughout Asia while overseeing the Air Force hospital, and remained a devoted traveler for the rest of his life, most of it from the saddle of a bicycle. He joined one of the first ever tours in China, where villagers would line the road to greet them. He biked most of Europe, including the Alps, ("he never met a hill he couldn't climb"), Turkey, Morocco, the former Yugoslavia, and all over North America. He also skied well into his 80s with the Ancient Skiers and was a devoted theater supporter, having season tickets to the Rep, Act, and Intiman.

He had a booming laugh, was a relentless tease and a generous host, and he loved life. We will miss him very much.

Preceded in death by his parents, his brother Owen Martin, MD, and sister in law, Fern Martin, and nephew Michael Martin. Survived by nephews and nieces Chris Martin, Betsy Rothstein (Barry), Nancy Hughes (Steve), Doug Martin (Renee), Peter Martin, Mimi Martin, Rick Martin (Renata), 10 grand nieces and nephews and 1 each great-grand niece and nephew.

The family is grateful to Caroline and Mercy from Husky Senior Care and to the Home Health and Hospice teams at Kline Galland for their kind, professional care. We plan to have a post-pandemic celebration of Don's life, hopefully in late summer or fall.

Sign Don's online Guest Book at obituaries.seattletimes.com