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Obituary of Derek Coakwell Martin, BSc Eng, LLB
September 6, 1945 - Kingston, Ontario
May 29, 2022 - Calgary, Alberta
Derek Martin of Calgary, AB passed away on Sunday, May 29, 2022 at the age of 76 years.
Derek was born on September 6, 1945, in Kingston, ON and grew up in Napanee, ON, where he obtained his engineering and law degrees from Queen’s University. It was in university that Derek met a medical student named Pat Gill, who became his wife in 1969 and in 1972, they moved to Calgary, AB. Derek practiced law for fifteen years with Code Hunter, Harradence Moore and Moore Martin. In 1987, he moved to senior management and counsel in the oil and gas services industry with Ceda Reactor and Enserv. He retired in 1997 but remained active on various boards, notably Ulster Petroleum.
Derek was a loving and involved husband and father, always supporting Pat in her busy life as a family doctor. He drove his kids to sports, Boy Scouts, and dancing, teaching them to ski and bike, and pulling them behind a boat. He was an avid hunter, golfer, bridge player, and fisherman, the latter of which took him to Alaska, Cuba, Russia, Mongolia, Brazil, and Chile. Derek and Pat spent their summers at Lake Windermere, their winters in Arizona, and travelled the world. He suffered from Parkinson’s disease for the past twelve years but fought bravely to continue to do the things he loved.
Derek is survived by Pat, his beloved wife of 52 years; his children, Paul, Nancy (Brad Tkachuk), and David (Florrie Williams); five treasured grandchildren, Ava, Lucas, Ellie, Fay, and Max; sister Sylvia Thurston (Larry Harvey); sister-in-law Dixie Jones; brother-in-law Irving Gill (Mary Lou); as well as numerous nieces and nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his father Milton in 1975, his mother Dorothy in 1995, and his son Jeffrey in 2004.
In lieu of flowers memorial tributes may be made directly to the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the University of Calgary, https://hbi.ucalgary.ca/donate. Donors may specify Parkinson’s or a Movement disorder.
A Celebration of Derek’s Life will be held on the afternoon of Saturday, July 23, 2022 at the Ranchman’s Club at 710 13 ave SW, Calgary, from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed here.
In living memory of Derek Martin, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.
