Dr. Dean Frederick Martin

Dean Frederick Martin, Ph.D., aged 93, USF Department of Chemistry Professor Emeritus, passed away April 14, 2026, peacefully, at The Colonnade at Carrollwood. The only child of Herman and Frances Martin, he was born April 6, 1933, in Woodburn, IA. Growing up in Grinnell, IA, he was active in Scouting, earning the rank of Life Scout. He graduated from Grinnell High School (1951), and Grinnell College (1955, BA with honors) before earning his Ph.D. (1958) at Pennsylvania State University. Following a year as an NSF postdoctoral fellow at University College London (1958-59), he became a faculty member at the University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign (1959-1964), before joining the faculty of the University of South Florida in 1964 as an associate professor. Subsequently he was professor (1969), a distinguished professor (1996), and was granted emeritus status (2006).

His scholarly interest included inorganic chemistry, chemical history, environmental chemistry, and chemical literature. He helped found the graduate program in chemistry, and also the program in oceanography at USF; He was also active for ten years in Distance Learning broadcasting to USF regional campuses in Lakeland, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota. He directed the research of 20 masters and 20 doctoral graduates and as well undergraduates and co-authored over 500 publications including six books. He was the recipient of several honors, including a PHS Career Development Award (1969-74) , Fellow AAAS (1983)and Fellow National Academy of Inventors (2015), as well as recipient of Grinnell Colleage’s Alumni Award (1969).

He and his beloved late wife, Barbara Bursa Martin, edited Florida Scientist, the quarterly journal of the Florida Academy of Science, for 27 years. They shared a sense of philanthropy that led to six endowments at Grinnell College, two at Penn State and four at USF. In addition, he shared responsibility for support of USF ROTC programs in Air Force, Army, and Navy/Marines

He was preceded in death by his grandson, Nikolas Martin, as well as his wife, Barbara Bursa Martin.

He is survived by: daughter, Diane Martin-Rudnick, Edmonds, WA; five sons, Bruce (Alison Nelson), Oak Park, IL; John (Beth), Redding, CA; Paul (Darlene), Fairfax, VA; Brian (Carin Marcussen), Humble, TX; and Eric, Dallas, TX; and five grandchildren, Sierra Rudnick and Kai Rudnick, Edmonds, WA; Domanic Martin, Fairfax, VA; and George Martin and Elisabeth Marcussen, Humble, TX.

Funeral arrangements are through Blount & Curry Carrollwood Chaoel. A Funeral Service will be held at 11am on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at the Garden of Memories Cemetery, 4207 E Lake Ave., Tampa, FL 33610. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Chemical Society or to Scouting America, in his memory; or to the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org), in memory of his late wife, Barbara Bursa Martin.