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Martin F. Bowen

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution announces with great sorrow
the death of Martin F. Bowen on January 4, in Barnstable, Mass. 
He was 53.

Martin was born in Blue Island, Illinois, on August 6, 1953.  He
attended Horace Greeley High School in New York and earned his
bachelor’s degree (cum laude) in zoology from the University of New
Hampshire in 1975.

Martin began his career as a commercial dry-suit diver, and he also
served as foreign fisheries observer for the law enforcement branch of
the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Martin joined the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in 1984 as a
research assistant in the Deep Submergence Group.  He left in 1990
to work for Marquest Group and Imetrix, Inc., but returned to WHOI in
1996 as the logistics coordinator for the Joint Global Ocean Flux
Study.  From 1996 to 2004, he worked as research associate in the
Deep Submergence Group.

His career at WHOI combined logistics, engineering, and underwater
photography.  During his years at the Institution, he worked on
the development of mechanical designs for various deep submergence
vehicles, including ANGUS, Argo, and Jason.  He also served as photographic systems manager on the first expedition to the RMS Titanic site in 1985. He made six dives aboard the research submersible Alvin during the second Titanic expedition in 1986 serving as the pilot of the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Jason Jr.
Martin was a superb ROV pilot, showed great attention to detail in
everything he undertook, and worked diligently to promote safety in the
workplace and at sea. He was also known for his great sense of humor
and an encounter with Martin and his dog Morgan, aka Goober, brightened
many people’s day.  Martin was involved in many research cruises
and expeditions throughout his career and also held many public
speaking engagements.

Martin is survived by his beloved wife, Ann, and her three children;
his father, Bruce, in Maine; his brother, Matt, in Ohio; and his sister
and brother-in-law, Bonnie and Mike Dynon, in Rhode Island. He is also
survived by two nephews and one niece.

A memorial for Martin will be held at a future date. Any cards can be
sent in care of Bonnie Dynon, 50 Suffolk Dr, North Kingstown, RI 02852.

Martin F. Bowen