Martin B. Dickman was born in Flushing, New York on February 16, 1950 and died in Santa Barbara, California on December 2, 2018. In his 68 years, Marty lived a full and productive life. He received his Ph.D. in Plant Pathology at the University of Hawaii, and became a world renowned speaker and authority in his field. He was a professor at the University of Nebraska for 20 years, then was named a Distinguished Professor and Director of the Institute for Plant Genomic and Biotechnology (IPGB) at Texas A&M University for the past 13 years. He received numerous awards and recognition of his contributions to science, and edited many prestigious journals worldwide. He loved his work, and especially enjoyed mentoring students and faculty (all of whom he considered family), and collaborating with colleagues across the globe.
Although Marty was distinguished in his chosen field, he was sarcastically irreverent and loved to joke and poke fun at himself and others throughout his life. He was down to earth and unpretentious. Marty had a big personality, and was fiercely competitive until slowed by his health issues, excelling at basketball, ping-pong, and racquetball. He was a sports fan, and rooted for the A&M Aggies and Nebraska Cornhuskers especially. He loved movies and music, and would listen to Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen amongst others for hours, with his musical passion dating back to his attendance at Woodstock in 1969.
Marty was born to Irving and Beatrice Dickman and grew up on Long Island with his younger brothers Donald and Gary, and baby sister Denise. His love of the ocean and surfing drew him to Hawaii in 1970, where he met the love of his life, Duana Smith , on a beach in Maui in 1972. They were soon married and started a family of their own with three children born in Hawaii and the fourth in Nebraska. He loved and wanted the best for all his kids, and became a loving “Papi” to his nine grandchildren. Marty credited Duana as the best thing that ever happened to him: they were soul mates and grew up together over the years. Marty retired in July 2018 and they moved to Duana’s hometown, Carpinteria, CA to live near the ocean that he loved so much.
Marty is survived by his loving wife Duana, his children Dion (Linh) Dickman, Crystal Heinicke, Derek (Cate) Dickman, and Jayde Dickman: his grandchildren Malakai and Acora Heinicke; Senen, Khai, Ascher, Weston, Mason and Brooks Dickman and Wyatt Smith. He is also survived by his mother Beatrice, brothers Donald and Gary Dickman, sister Denise Spiegler, and numerous brothers- and sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews.
A small family memorial was held in Carpinteria. Special thanks to all who acknowledged Marty at his retirement ceremony from Texas A&M, which he considered a celebration of his life. Memorial donations may be made to Rocksteadyboxing.org or to the IPGB Martin B. Dickman Fund, TAMU 2123, Borlaug Center, College Station, TX 77843.
~Look for the bluebirds when you’re looking for me, and remember my love of the ocean, the sea.~
*Please visit www.reardonfuneral.com to share stories and tributes.