Joe Martin1946-2026Joe Martin, a widely admired musician, artist, and family man, who spent his career studying honey bees, died on January 17, 2026, at his home in Tucson, Arizona. He was 79.Joe's death was peaceful. He was briefly at home in the care of his family, Casa de la Luz Hospice, and Home Instead.Joseph Hewitt Martin was born on March 30, 1946, in Newark, N.J., to Gertrude Molyneaux Martin and Joseph E. Martin. His family moved west when Joe was eight years old, rooting him in enduring friendships and shaping his long attachment to the landscapes of the Southwest. He attended St. Cyril of Alexandria School and Catalina High School, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Arizona.After naval duty on the USS Bon Homme Richard, Joe worked as a research technician and beekeeper at the Carl Hayden Bee Research Center in Tucson. He studied “killer bees,” focusing on bee behavior, breeding, and management. Among his responsibilities was the artificial insemination of queen bees, earning him an indelicate nickname among colleagues.In 1981, Joe married the love of his life, Dory Isaac Martin. Together they built a life centered on family, music, and shared values. He is survived by his wife; his sons, Jesse Martin (with his wife, Jaime Lynn Wendt, their son Brody and daughter Emilia) and Sam Martin (with Veronica Orellana); all of Tucson. He amused his grandchildren with an impeccably quackable Donald Duck voice.He is also survived by his sisters, Judith Willett, of Tucson, and Jane Beiser, of San Diego; along with extended family and a wide circle of friends who remained close to him across decades and distances. Joe leaves no enemies.Joe was a talented musician, visual artist, and devoted cactus gardener. He learned for the sheer pleasure of learning.Joe played guitar and led a large group of friends who sang around the campfire on annual campouts in October. All were impressed by his extraordinary memory for lyrics and the sheer number of songs he knew. Harmonies with Dory and lifelong friend Sandy Staples were a particular joy. Joe's love for music was eclectic: rock and roll, jug band, bluegrass, and more recently he was enamored with old jazz standards. He recorded two collections, Tunes Fromthe Couch (2019) and Tunes From Beneath the Couch (2021). (See TunesFromTheCouch.com.) Joe's music was intimate, unshowy, lovingly given, and accompanied by his charismatic stage presence and winning sense of humor.Joe also made exquisite jewelry as a lapidarist, using natural stones and silver, and produced visual art from shells, butterflies, and pinecones. His creative work in his shop and garden reflected a lifelong attentiveness to the natural world and a pleasure in making things by hand. Joe's family and friends will miss him dearly and will cherish his memory.In lieu of flowers, donations to The Nature Conservancy or the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona would be appreciated. Arrangements for a memorial service, to be held before the weather becomes too hot, will be announced.