Martin L. Stephens

Martin L. Stephens passed away at home in Clarksburg, MD, on February 17, 2024 after a long battle with cancer that he fought with courage and resilience.

Born in New York City on January 4, 1956 to the late Gloria Viera (nee Russano) and Wendell "Steve" Stephens, Marty was a graduate of Archbishop Molloy High School in Queens and York College, City University of New York. He earned his Ph.D. in biology from the University of Chicago, where he founded an animal welfare club and carried out a field study of birds in Central America.

Marty was a gentle and principled man, beloved by colleagues, loyal to family and friends, and always sensitive to the needs of others. He devoted his career to animal protection, as vice president of animal research issues for the Humane Society of the United States and as senior research associate at the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He was also an avid hiker, kayaker, biker and birdwatcher.

As a leading advocate for the replacement of animals in research, testing and education, Marty was the author of numerous peer-reviewed publications. He played a key role on the National Research Council committee that spurred the creation of governmental initiatives focused on replacing animals for toxicity testing. Marty's work on the committee reflected his gift for building relationships and ensuring that the committee took a confident, forward-leaning position on the potential of non-animal methods to replace animal use.

Marty also took great pride in his successful efforts to reunite and honor William Russell and Rex Burch, the pioneering scientists who formulated the Three Rs approach of replacement, reduction, and refinement of procedures to limit the suffering and use of animals in laboratories. In 2014, he received the Russell and Burch Award in recognition of his own contributions to the advancement of non-animal methods. In his years at CAAT, he became a prominent champion of evidence-based medicine for toxicological risk assessment.

Marty is survived by his spouse Julie Falconer; siblings Doug (Cathy), Leila, Ken (Alice), Sandy (Miles); nieces Natalie, Valerie, Mae Rose, Francesca; nephews Chris, Peter, Alan, Gregory, Russell, Rocco; stepdaughters Bethany and Hannah; former spouse Jo Shoesmith; and many cousins, great-nieces and nephews, and cherished friends. He will be missed by beloved animal companions. He was preceded in death by his nephew Jeffrey and fiance' Ruth Gresser.

A memorial service will be held later in the year. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing https://caat.jhsph.edu/make-a-gift/, The Humane Society of the United States https://secured.humanesociety.org/page/98399/donate/1, Amputee Coalition, or Alternatives Research and Development Foundation