Martin Ernest Adler

1946-2024

Dr. Martin E. Adler was born on November 11, 1946, in Long Branch, New Jersey. He was a devoted husband, father, brother, grandfather, friend, and physician. On June 11, 2024, at the age of 77, Martin passed away peacefully in San Diego, California, following a long struggle with Parkinson's Disease. Consistent with his humor and love of finding patterns in numbers, he was born on the 11th day of the 11th month, passed on the 11th day at the 11th hour, and at an age divisible by 11.



Growing up in the small town of Oakhurst on the Jersey shore, Martin attended grammar school in Ocean Township and high school in nearby Asbury Park. He met the future love of his life, Eileen Keppler, when he was only five years old-and she was four. Eileen had shared a double carriage with her twin brother, and her parents gave it to the Adler family when Martin's younger twin brothers were born. Martin attended Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and then medical school at Tufts University in Massachusetts. He completed his medical training in Boston, then-with his new wife, Eileen, and their first son, Jeremy-moved west to attend the University of California at Davis for a fellowship in endocrinology. Although Martin claimed that he was drawn to endocrinology to treat diseases of the thyroid, his journey took him to become an expert in diabetes. He practiced medicine for nearly 30 years upon relocating to San Mateo, California, where he and Eileen purchased a home and welcomed their second son, Matthew. Martin eventually became the head of endocrinology for San Mateo County General Hospital. He was noted for his commitment to serving all patients with compassion and dignity. Martin retired in 2003, and he and Eileen moved to San Diego in 2005 to be closer to their first grandson.

Martin understood the importance of physical and mental activity, enjoying sports throughout his life. A long-standing fan of the Giants and Padres, his appreciation for baseball began in high school when he played first base. Martin was always open to trying new activities, including running, completing the Bay to Breakers race in San Francisco, tennis, golf, swimming, biking, and Tai Chi. He enjoyed camping across Europe in his 20s and spending summer and winter weekends with his family at their cabin in the Sierra Nevada mountains. A dedicated father, Martin actively fostered his two sons' interests, attending Boy Scouts events, Little League games, martial arts tournaments, and school band concerts. Also passionate about motorized vehicles, Martin enjoyed going to classic car shows with his grandsons and often reminisced about the motorcycle he rode during college.

During his illness, Martin was a constant fighter, extensively researching treatments and freely sharing his knowledge with others. He even took up Rock Steady Boxing to combat his illness. Martin bravely participated in the cutting-edge therapy of implantable deep brain stimulation, which was remarkably successful. He was such a supporter of this therapy that his clinical team produced a short documentary about his experience. Up until late in his illness, Martin could be seen taking long bike rides along the San Diego beach and bay. He was routinely biking with two other friends, who both also had brain stimulators. They would jokingly call themselves the "metal heads." Although the illness was incurable, Martin always maintained a remarkably upbeat and positive attitude, looking for reasons to celebrate, even his half-birthdays. He had certain goals later in life: to remain living at home and to visit the beach, even after he could no longer take his beloved bike rides. Two weeks before his passing, with family in tow and a grin from ear to ear, he cruised up and down the beach with the help of his sons and a specialized wheelchair, exuding pure joy.

Martin is survived by his wife of nearly 55 years, Eileen, and their two sons, Jeremy and Matthew. Martin and Eileen were married in New Jersey on August 17, 1969, which happened to be the same weekend as the Woodstock music festival in New York. Eileen is a retired teacher, avid knitter, and author. Jeremy practices as a Physician Associate in San Diego, specializing in pain management. He and his wife Danielle have two sons, Jacob and Jesse. Matthew is an attorney who lives in San Francisco, California with his wife, Sarah. Martin is also survived by his older brother, Steve, and twin younger brothers, David and Paul.

In lieu of flowers, donations to The Michael J. Fox Foundation in memory of Dr. Martin Adler can be made to further improve Parkinson's Disease research.