Dr. Richard Martin died peacefully in his sleep a few minutes before midnight on Sunday, May 10, 2026, following a long, difficult struggle with dementia.

A scientist and a scholar, Richard McKelvy Martin was born on January 26, 1936, to William McKelvy Martin and Kathryn Louise Homan Martin in Hollywood, California. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of California, Riverside, in 1959, doing research under James Pitts on photochemistry. He earned his PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 1963, and did a National Institute of Health Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard University from 1963-1965 under Dudley Herschbach.

Richard taught chemistry at the University of California, Santa Barbara, from 1965 until he retired in 1994, receiving tenure in 1971. After his retirement he was honored as a Professor Emeritus. After the Santa Barbara oil spill in 1969, Richard was part of the Environmental Studies Formation Committee at UCSB, which established the Environmental Studies department, and he also worked for that department as a professor and coordinator. During his career as a professor, he gave lectures abroad in Japan, East Germany, Holland and Great Britain, and published more than 80 scientific papers. During sabbaticals Richard also held positions as a Visiting Professor of Chemistry at Cambridge University in England, and Visiting Professor at the Max Planck Institute in Gottingen, Germany.

Richard had three children with his first wife, Joanne Kinkade: Vivian Martin, Barbara Martin, and William John Martin. He later married Susan Emmel in 1974 and had a happy partnership with her until her tragic death from cancer in 1996. However, joy came again when Richard met Penny Rickling in 2003. They married in 2005 and had a devoted and loving partnership.

Richard was never idle. He loved the outdoors, hiking and bicycling, swimming and traveling. As well as his teaching positions in England and Germany, he visited many countries including Saudi Arabia and Morocco. Richard’s travels continued with Penny as they enjoyed visits to Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, London, France and Italy. In quieter moments he occupied himself with extensive reading, and with writing, including poetry and his own memoirs. Richard also enjoyed building, improving, and fixing things, and was always working in his shop on projects.

Richard was a brilliant and passionate man, who believed in science, rational thought, and humanism. He was actively involved in the Humanist Society of Santa Barbara for many years and served as treasurer, and then president.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Alberta Martin Keeney, his first and second wives, Joanne Kinkade Miller and Susan Emmel Martin, his daughter Barbara Martin, and his son William John Martin.

Richard is survived by his wife, Penny Martin, his daughter Vivian Martin Olsen (and husband William), seven grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and Penny’s sons David Rickling (and wife Margaret) and Eric Rickling (and wife Mari) and Penny’s three grandchildren.

A memorial ceremony for Richard will be announced at a later date.