Martin Deafenbaugh

Dr. Martin Keith Deafenbaugh, CAPT(Ret.) MC USN, 74, of Annapolis, MD, passed away peacefully on March 14, 2025. Born in Norfolk, VA on December 19, 1950, he is preceded in death by his parents, Gordon and Lydia Deafenbaugh.

He is survived by his beautiful, loving wife, Cathy Stephens Deafenbaugh; his beloved children, Dr. Jaime Deafenbaugh Dunn and her husband Robb of Annapolis, Dr. Bradley Deafenbaugh and his wife Meredith of Virginia Beach, and his cherished sister, Kandis Arrington and her husband Sam of Virginia Beach. He was the incredibly proud "Papa" to his grandchildren Nora Dunn, Kate Dunn, Emilia Deafenbaugh, and Luke Deafenbaugh. He was also best friends with dogs Rory, Walter and Gracie, whom he loved to slip table scraps to when their parents weren't looking.

Marty was a graduate of Bayside High School in Virginia Beach, class of 1969, and graduated in 1973 from the United States Naval Academy. He married the love of his life and wife of 51 years, Cathy, in Ashland, Virginia on November 24, 1973. A surface warfare officer for 7 years after commissioning, he served three sea tours and had returned back to USNA as a Seamanship and Navigation Instructor when he was accepted to medical school. He graduated from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, class of 1984, and upon graduation, completed his Orthopaedic Surgery residency at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP). Shortly after graduation, he deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Storm. He practiced at NMCP for the next 10 years, serving as Chief of Orthopaedics and the Residency Program Director, as well as a team surgeon for Naval Special Warfare. He then returned to USNA as their Orthopaedic Surgeon and the Brigade Medical Officer. He completed his 32-year Naval career as Chief of Orthopaedics at National Naval Medical Center Bethesda, leading the Orthopaedic department as Bethesda became the primary casualty receiving hospital for Sailors and Marines wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. Upon his retirement from the Navy, he continued in private practice for the next 10 years in Noblesville, Indiana and on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. He then retired with Cathy to Annapolis.

Marty was a lifelong fan of Navy football, Motown music, Stoic philosophy, and gin martinis. He perpetually rooted for the underdog and never made it through the National Anthem or Navy's Alma Mater without shedding a tear. He was a passionate fisherman, a keen amateur historian and a sentimental collector of old, beat-up, run-down cars, a hobby that his family never really understood but nonetheless tolerated with love. Two of his favorite places were the Double-T Diner in Annapolis, MD, and the front porch of the family beach house he built in Kitty Hawk, NC. It was there you could find him laughing with and entertaining his family and friends that he cherished above all else. He always remarked how incredibly lucky and grateful he was to have so many friends that he loved. He lived by and was the embodiment of the great class of '73's motto, "Non Sibi."

Please join us in celebrating Marty's life on Friday, May 2, at 3pm at the USNA Chapel, with a reception to follow. One of Marty's favorite organizations was the Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons (SOMOS). As a prior past president, he believed strongly in its mission of educating and training military surgeons to take care of our nation's wounded servicemembers. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to SOMOS (https://www.somos.org/friends-of-somos). These donations will go towards training the next generation of surgeons who answer the call.