Kevin Louis Martin

1948 - 2014

Kevin Louis Martin
June 12, 1948 - Nov. 6, 2014
Salt Lake City, Utah-Kevin Louis Martin struggled for a relatively brief time with liver cancer before passing away peacefully on Nov. 6, 2014. Born in Brooklyn, NY on June 12, 1948 to Paul Joseph Martin and Drucilla Kendall Martin, Kevin grew up in Lowell, MA, Mexico City, and Puerto Rico. He graduated from Subiaco Academy in Subiaco, AR (1966) and from Illinois Institute of Technology (1970) with a degree in Industrial Design. In his career he designed snow mobiles for John Deere, passenger trains for Amtrak, and transit vehicles for commuter and light rail systems all over the country. In between rail projects, he assisted photographer Robert Frerck on several trips to Spain and Mexico, resulting in two books, a documentary film, and educational film strips. His final project before retiring from R. V. Bravo and Associates in 2012, was at Washington Dulles Airport, managing technical issues and chairing the safety committee during design and construction of the automated "people mover" train system. It was at Amtrak in 1974 that Kevin met his wife-to-be, Sue Stevens Martin, who was then Amtrak's public affairs spokesperson. They eloped in 1976 and were married in the middle of the Potomac River aboard the General Jubal Early cable ferry. They had two sons: Quinn in 1981and Travis in 1984. Kevin's work brought them to Utah in 1995. Kevin has had a life-long love affair with all things automotive - from being able to identify every make of car at the age of two, to drawing and photographing them, to crewing for racing friends, to writing about them for the blog, Curbside Classics, and cheering his favorite NASCAR drivers every weekend. And of course he loved driving, especially long road trips with Sue. Kevin had an engaging personality and a wild (some would say inappropriate) sense of humor. He was a voracious reader of eclectic non-fiction as well as fiction. During his illness his one request was for Sue to read to him the autobiography of Harpo Marx. He loved his boys and was their biggest cheerleader, whether on the soccer sidelines or watching them flourish in their careers. Kevin is preceded in death by his older sister Drucilla Clark, and his mother and father. He is survived by his sister Paula Roveda, two nephews, two nieces, his sons, grandson Riley, wife Sue, and many cousins. Another of his hobbies was genealogy, so he will know whom to look for in Heaven. He will be especially missed by Paco, the black cat who stayed faithfully by his side throughout his illness. Many thanks to the wonderful doctors and nurses at Intermountain Medical Center and Care Source Home Health and Hospice. Expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of a donation to Judge Memorial Catholic High School (Salt Lake City) or Subiaco Academy (Subiaco, AR). A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2014 from 6-8 pm at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City, where complimentary valet parking will be available at the North entrance. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.starksfuneral.com