Kenneth Paul Martin, Jr.

Kenneth Paul Martin, Jr., 67, a resident of Somerville, MA for the past fifteen years, formerly of Everett, MA passed away Saturday, July 20, 2019 in Cape Coral, FL. He was born May 14, 1952 in Everett, MA to the proud Kenneth Paul and Beatrice Martin, Sr., now deceased.

Kenneth Martin was a local resident of Massachusetts who dedicated his life to worker safety. Kenneth started his career on construction sites, which led him to pursue a career improving identifying hazards and proposing solutions for workers. He graduated from the Harvard School of Public Health and became a Certified Industrial Hygienist. Kenneth worked at MIT and Harvard, where he continued as a lecturer in the field of industrial hygiene for the remainder of his career. Kenneth was also involved at Bunker Hill Community College and the Van Loan School of Professional Studies where he delighted in teaching statistics to adult learners.

Kenneth’s passion for worker safety lead him to develop radiation safety training for Niton, and ThermoFisher Scientific. He held US patents in radiation shields for portable x-ray fluorescence instruments and was a published author. A steady, calm and creative problem solver, he became one of the founding members of Viken Detection. He loved his co-workers, and enjoyed being part of a highly skilled, yet sarcastic, team of professionals. He could be found working late at night, walking to Dunkin Donuts with colleagues and at Monday staff meetings; otherwise, he was hard to pin down.

Kenneth downplayed his accomplishments, and always tried to build up those around him. He was kind, soft-spoken, handsome, and prone to mumbling when he was very comfortable. He was known to pick up the tab, and give away cash to folks who were struggling. Kenneth Martin could often be found at the MIT Flea market on the third Sunday of the month in Cambridge with his very unique sense of fashion.

Kenneth Martin will be remembered for teaching his second wife how to love unconditionally, for which she is forever grateful. He will also be remembered as loving his two children, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.  He was exceptionally proud of his family’s ability to be nice – which he thought was one of the highest and most difficult achievements. Kenneth will also be remembered for taking his scientific skills into the kitchen, where he perfected the French macron. He was a calm delight who is missed and celebrated by many; including the guy who specialized in taking pictures of raptors across the street.  

Kenneth Martin is survived by his beloved wife who he met in 1996, Dr. Laura Douglass of Somerville, MA; His sons Kenneth Paul Martin III, Seth Rohan Martin; daughter in-law Michele Martin and beautiful grandchildren Justin Cassar and Jason Martin. He loved Jimmy Failla, Jim Blute, and Bree Allen. He was particularly fond of his pitbull, Falcor Shanti. He left behind a garage full of gadgets, saws, tools, mysterious technical items and the largest book collection on lead in the country. If he was going to give you advice now, he would say don’t spend so much time thinking about material things.

Kenneth Paul Martin did not want any services. He asked you acknowledge him by sitting near a convenient body of water, kiss a dog and have a beverage of your choice.

Memorial Contributions in memory of Kenneth Paul Martin, Jr. are suggested to be given to someone near you in need, or leave an extra-large tip for a waiter or waitress.

Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.