Obituary
Thomas J. Martin

Thomas Jeffrey (Tom) Martin of Athens, Georgia, passed away peacefully on May 25, 2025, from Interstitial Lung Disease and Pulmonary Fibrosis. Tom approached his death the same way in which he lived his life, with thoughtfulness, acceptance, courage, and humor. He had the opportunity to say good-bye to his family and friends and to offer final words of wisdom to many whom he loved. Tom is survived by his wife Kathy Clark, his sister Barb Martin, four stepchildren, and nine step-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his father, Thomas Albert Martin and mother, Elizabeth Jane (Powell) Martin. His wife Kathy, stepdaughter Helen, and sisters-in-law Jacki Bosco and Cindy Clark were present with him as he departed from this world.

Tom was an avid reader, consummate storyteller, and knowledgeable cinephile. One of his favorite stories to tell was from a biography of Bob Dylan. When Bob was a young man, so the story goes, his father relayed the following fatherly wisdom. “Bob,” he said, “do not worry about the things you want that you don’t have. Instead, be grateful for the things you don’t have that you don’t want.” Tom shared this wisdom often and took it to heart. It led to a deeply satisfactory life, one sweetened by the small pleasures that brought him happiness: a well-written sentence, a newly discovered author or director, a conversation with a grandchild or good friend, a tasty meal, an obscure music video, an afternoon at a coffee shop with a good book to read.
Tom had an extensive library filled with his favorite books. He relished recommending books specifically for particular people in his life, especially the young ones. He gave great thought to this and would tell the recipient exactly why he chose a particular book or author for them, much to the recipient’s delight. He enjoyed watching and discussing movies, repeating his favorites often and welcoming suggestions for new-to-him films. His favorites included a wide range of genres and varied from old Hollywood epics to French New Wave to brand new releases by first time directors.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, on November 15, 1953, Tom was educated in parochial schools and graduated from Loyola University of Chicago with a degree in Psychology. After a year working for Social Security, he joined the Air Force and moved to San Antonio, Texas. There he earned a master’s degree in Industrial Psychology from St. Mary’s University. After leaving the Air Force, he eventually made his way to Santa Monica, California, where he earned a Ph.D. in Public Policy Analysis from The Rand Corporation. He spent the rest of his career working for non-profit organizations as a research analyst, first in Iowa City, Iowa, then in Cleveland, Ohio. Though he called himself a “backroom numbers man,” he relished the fact that he was contributing to a mission that had a higher purpose. Tom met Kathy in Cleveland. Upon his retirement, they settled in Athens, Georgia. He welcomed the opportunity to get to know new regions of the country and said yes to every chance he had to explore someplace new.

We will remember Tom for many things. He could always be found in one of his signature bicycle caps with a filled backpack ready for a hike, picnic, or morning at a coffee shop. He was a gifted listener and observer. His vocabulary was impressive. (Kathy often said of their courtship, “He had me at verisimilitude!”) He was not hesitant to ask questions nor to share answers, often adding nuanced historical context to conversations on current events. His marvelous brain was only surpassed by his generous heart.

Tom’s family and friends are grateful to have walked with him on his journey. One of his last requests was for an annual party in his name. “As long as you remember me, I will be alive.”

If you would like to honor Tom’s memory, the family asks that donations be made either to the Athens-Clarke County Library (checks may be mailed to the attention of Sue Plaksin: Athens-Clarke County Library, 2025 Baxter Street, Athens, GA 30606) or the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (text PFFTribute1720 to 71777).



“We’re all just walking each other home.” Ram Daas