Philip Martin

Jan 28, 1930 -

Jan 5, 2026

Philip "Pip" Gosford Martin passed away at home on Jan. 5, 2026, in Anchorage, Alaska, at the age of 95. Born in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, on Jan. 28, 1930, to his Christian parents, Gosford Heaslip Martin and Marjory Gowan Peck, a teacher, he grew up active and inquisitive. He attended Vancouver's Prince of Wales school and completed two years at University of British Columbia business school before he said, "Enough." He left to work, strongly influenced by the quiet courage of his Scotch/Irish father, a Royal Canadian Army captain who led a successful WWI Allied platoon against the Central Powers in southeast France in 1918 and earned three Allied military medals of honor.

Pip, the second of three children, tried several jobs: ranch hand, tugboat crewman and salesman. With many self-taught skills, he later added a log room to the family log cabin in the B.C. Cariboo; constructed row boats; tended gardens; planted trees; and repaired cars. For 10 years he was the events manager for the Pacific National Exhibition Center in Vancouver, the fifth largest year-round events facility in North America at the time.

His career turned to civic festival management. He began providing quality, fiscally sound and joyful community events in Canada and the United States - Edmonton, New Westminster, Portland, Tacoma and Fur Rendezvous in Anchorage. In 1986, he started "A Taste of Edmonton," an annual community summer event to enjoy tastes and treats of the world that were presented by many area restaurants.

Pip was one of the founders of the Northwest Festivals Association in Canada and B.C. Canada Festival Association based in Vancouver. He was also a consultant and presenter for many festivals throughout North America. A member of the International Festivals Association, he was the first Canadian to serve as its president in 1980. For his contributions to civic festivals, he received many honorary festival memberships and awards from Portland, Tacoma, Olympia, Seattle, Wenatchee, and Leavenworth, Whitefish, and the 1985 Canadian Travel and Tourism Industry Award for Attraction/Event Executive of the Year, Vancouver. His civic memberships included the International Skal Club and Rotary International. He retired from the festival industry in 1994.

While working in Anchorage, he met Lydia Lou Hays in 1989. Two years later they were married in Anchorage. A Canadian citizen, Mr. Martin became a United States Permanent Resident on July 16,1992, renewed and to expire in 2035. He enjoyed the outdoors, music, model train crafts and trips with his wife to England, Panama, and Mexico. They "RV'd" in the USA and Canada for many years.

Pip is preceded in death by his Canadian parents and older sister, Muriel Elizabeth (husband, d. Jack Murdoch), a UBC graduate. He is survived by his younger sister, Ann Margaret (husband Phil Lower) a UBC graduate; their three children; wife, Lydia, of 35 years; and three Canadian born children with his first wife, Bernice Yvonne Austin (d. 2018), including daughter, Laura Dawn (husband Gino Gadowsky) and their two children; son, Greg Scott Martin and his two children Ryan (wife Melissa) their four children, and Alexis and her child; and daughter, Shelley Jo Martin.

In 2015, a near-fatal medical procedure damaged Pip's heart, brain, eyes and nervous system. His physical and mental skills gradually returned to reduced function; except he remained legally blind. His wife was his healthcare provider. Besides physical therapy and daily care, mental and communication skills were the focus. In 2016, his wife began reading aloud news three times daily and more than 203 books - mysteries, military, bush country, history, biographies, marine, current affairs and humor. These activities and periodic visits from family and friends significantly helped to improve his memory and speaking. At his 90th birthday party in 2020, he stood and flawlessly delivered a 20-minute impromptu speech to express his gratitude and love for his family and friends' support in his recovery process. Filled with love, grace and goodness, his courage and resolve in response to the effects of his life-changing experience remained strong to the end. A burial service in Anchorage will be announced and held in spring 2026.