Adrian Martin

Adrian Roy Percival Martin left us on January 8, two weeks after his 87th birthday. He

was the beloved father of Richard (Joanna), Nick (Caitlin), and Pamela (Chris).

Husband and best friend of Carol Lawrence Martin for 54 years. Brother of Melody Hoal

and Gregory Martin. Grandfather to Spencer, Teddy, Owen, Winnie, Oliver, Evie and

namesake Adrian (born the day his grandfather died). 

Adrian was born in London in 1937, and grew up and came of age in South Africa,

mainly in Johannesburg and Cape Town, the city of his mother’s family the

Palmers. He graduated from the Diocesan College (Bishops), Cape Town, and the

University of the Witwatersrand medical school, Johannesburg. After qualifying as an

anesthesiologist, he and Carol moved to Chicago in 1973 to begin a family, a city they

fell in love with and from which Adrian never strayed far for the remainder of his life. 

Adrian was a man of many talents and an adventurer at heart. He was a classically

trained pianist who enjoyed playing Bach, Beethoven and Mozart throughout his life. In

his 20s and 30s he flew gliders throughout Southern Africa and Europe. He sailed

competitively in numerous one design classes on the Great Lakes and retired to sail the

world on his 45-foot ketch “Kunjani,” whose mast he was still climbing into his late

70s. He was an adventurer who navigated the Mozambique Channel without a chart at

19 (using a map on the back of a sugar packet), paraglided off Signal Hill in Cape Town

at 79, and went on an Antarctic expedition at 81. He sailed Kunjani solo from Turkey to

the Canary Islands using an egg timer to wake himself every 15 minutes while transiting

some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. 

Professionally, Adrian was an accomplished anesthesiologist who taught generations of

medical students at Northwestern University Medical School. As a student he did

seminal work with anthropologist Phillip Tobias surveying the local populations in the

Zambezi Valley. He improved the lives of countless patients through the pain clinic he

helped establish, among many other contributions. 

Most importantly, he was a devoted dad, family man, and friend to many. He scratched

backs, read bedtime stories, built decks, playhouses, jungle gyms, bonfires, and dining

tables. He had a twinkling, mischievous wit and loved playing devil’s advocate in any

discussion. He was an irreverent and beautiful soul, deeply loved, and will be deeply

missed. A gathering in celebration of his life will be held in Chicago this spring.

Arrangements entrusted to Chicagoland Cremation Options in Schiller Park, Illinois.