Sad News . . . Bob Martin

3 years ago

We just learned that Former ARS President Bob Martin passed away last night (Friday, Nov. 26) of a sudden heart attack.

Much will be said of all of the great things Bob did. But for ME, I treasured his friendship, his kindness, and his intelligence.

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stillanntn6b

3 years ago

As an east coaster, I didn't know Bob well, but I had run into him and enjoyed talking with him at many meetings we attended. (He often was a speaker who didn't know that many and I didn't know that many of the names of the ARS.)

Here's a story from a meeting in Nashville. He had just flown in and was wandering through the meeting hotel. We had checked in, and had planned dinner with friends from North Carolina. So I asked Bob to join us because he looked both tired and hungry.

At the dinner table half an hour later our NC friends were there early and I had them add a chair. Bob came in, sat down, and I introduced him. The other couple (she enjoyed showing roses, he helped her) had not met him. When I did the intros, she started smiling and got excited. She told him how much she enjoyed everything he wrote for the ARS and he was very gracious. They talked about showing mini roses and she asked questions about culture. He was surprised the success she had in Zone 5 (she had an awesome greenhouse on the top of a mountain.) and a good evening was enjoyed by all.

He self published a book "Showing Good Roses" which is simply excellent. 496 pages. The only thing missing is an index and it's missing because it would have added even more pages.

He started a website RoseShow.com.

He's going to be missed.

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Comments (15)

Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
3 years ago
I am so sorry to hear of his passing.
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susan9santabarbara
3 years ago
Bob was one of my favorite rose people. He was very generous with his knowledge and always so gracious. He invited me to tour his garden when he was still in Pasadena (wonderful), and he administered my Consulting Rosarian exam in 2002. It's a great loss for the rose community; he will be missed.
jerijen
Original Author
3 years ago
Ann & Susan . . . You're both right.

We met Bob circa 1990, and, well, there was no one quite like him.

Along with all of the other superlatives that have been aimed his way, Bob was -- unfailingly -- KIND.

That is important, and rare.

If he hadn't already won my heart, he'd have done so when, in a discussion of Found/unidentified roses, he said to me: "If a rose exists, there ought to be a way to show it." (I agreed.) And also when, on a visit to our motorhome, he complimented the beauty of our Dal puppy.
Henry Kuska
3 years ago
So far I cannot find an obituary.
jerijen
Original Author
3 years ago
This being totally unexpected, I doubt they had an obit handy, Henry.
Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
3 years ago
He sounded like a lovely man.
DDinSB (Z10b Coastal CA)
3 years ago
Sympathy and condolences to the family and his many friends. He sounds like a wonderful human being who did good work. Thank you for posting, @jerijen
slumgullion in southern OR
3 years ago
I have never heard of him before but I'm always saddened when an experienced rosarian passes away. His knowledge and expertise will be missed. I'm glad to hear at least part of it was able to be memorialized in a book, ARS articles, etc.
stillanntn6b
3 years ago
Here's his most excellent obituary His OB. It's a good read.
Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
3 years ago
What a great Obit!
fig_insanity Z7b E TN
3 years ago
As sweet as the obit is...I still cried a little.
mustbnuts zone 9 sunset 9
3 years ago
I can't believe it! I still think I will see him at a zoom meeting in the near future. Being a life member of ARS and member of two different rose societies, I also can't believe how silent they have been about this. I have not heard a thing from any of them! No tributes. No thank you's. No notices. Nothing!

I have "known" Bob for years and years. He used to be Pet Rose on the old AOL rose chat, when I first "met" him. Oh, the comments he would make about organic gardening, spraying or not spraying and David Austin roses in those days. Yet, he was willing to help anyone out who needed it--personal issues or rose issues.

His knowledge base was incredible. He was always learning about roses and admitted his mistakes that became costly lessons to him. While our methods of growing roses are very different, his garden is just gorgeous! I am thankful I have been able to enjoy his lectures live on Zoom and those recorded on Youtube. I am grateful that we have those to look at in the future. Yes, he will be missed.
jerijen
Original Author
3 years ago
MustBe -- I wish you could have known Bob in person. He was every bit as nice, and as dedicated, as he seemed back then. In every way.

We lost so many "Good Ones" in the last few years, and he is definitely one of them.
apple_pie_order
3 years ago
His book is wonderful.