Aaron Christopher Martin

Aaron Christopher Martin, age 27, passed away unexpectedly on August 18, 2022 in Plantation, Florida.  He was born on June 25, 1995 in Plantation, Florida.  Aaron, a graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas High School and Santa Fe College, was continuing his education at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) studying archaeology.

Aaron was in the prime of his life, on the brink of living his dreams.  Aaron recently returned from a field program with FAU in Ecuador where he fell in love with the country of Ecuador, the archeological work at the excavation site associated with The Salango Research Center, the FAU students and faculty, the fishing village of Salango, and the people of Salango.  Aaron also found the true love of his life, Melina Daubenmire.  Aaron told his family he didn’t know it was possible to care about someone so deeply as he did Melina. 

Aaron meant to return to Salango and had even dreamed of living there someday.  In the meantime, he wanted to finish his degree at FAU and said he had a plan for his life.  Aaron cared deeply about his friends and wanted to help when he could.  He planned to live with new roommates for the coming year, including Isaác who he met on the Salango trip.

Aaron had many interests and talents.  As a boy, Aaron was a cub scout, participated in PAL sports, and played violin.  Aaron was a state violin solo champion and a state fiddle champion.  He loved the ocean, his happy place, and dabbled in surfing.  He also loved to cook; he constantly researched recipes and prepared many meals for his family, especially this past year after he got a smoker grill for Christmas.

Aaron leaves behind a grieving family and girlfriend.  He is survived by his father, Frederick, his mother, Jennifer, and his brother Eric (along with Busé Sengul, Eric’s fiancée).  Also, he is survived by his grandparents, Halbert and Ruth Smith, his Aunts Carolyn Gifford (John) and Valerie Brown (Steve), Great Uncle Phil Klinger (Betty), Great Uncle George Martin and extended family members.  Aaron was preceded in death by his Grandmother Loretta Martin and his Grandfather Al Martin.

The family requests donations in lieu of flowers be sent to the FAU Archaeological and Ethnographic Field Programs in Ecuador, donations and funds can be accepted by check or online. 

Checks can be written to "FAU Foundation," and on the memo line the reference should be 
"HUM 375 (in memoriam Aaron Martin)."
Checks can be sent to:
Department of Anthropology
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL 33431

Online:
The donation link is:  https://fauf.fau.edu/arts-and-letters
Choose the donation amount, then choose Anthropology Department from the Designation menu. 
Under Tribute Gift click “This gift is in honor, memory, or support of someone”, then “In Memory of,” Aaron Martin can be typed in.

https://www.fau.edu/global/goabroad/faculty-led-programs/salango-ecuador-page/