George Frederick Martin

George Frederick Martin, a beloved father and adventurous spirit, passed away peacefully from natural causes on August 18, 2026, at his home in Saint Augustine, Florida. He was 85 years old. Born on October 15, 1940, in Miami, Florida, George lived a life characterized by service, passion, and a profound connection to nature. After growing up in Tampa, George obtained degrees from the University of Florida, with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, and a Master of Agriculture concentration in Fruit Propagation. However, a sense of adventure and service led him to a career in the United States Coast Guard. He served in a variety of roles after completing Officer Candidate School in 1964. Early in his career he was deployed to the Arctic as a diver on the icebreaker USCGC Westwind. He then served aboard the USCGC Cook Inlet during the Vietnam War. In 1975, George earned a second Master’s degree in Strategy and Naval Operations from the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. From 1978 to 1981 he oversaw drug interdiction operations in Miami, Florida, and during this time he took part in humanitarian operations to rescue refugees during the Mariel boatlift. The defining chapter of his career came on three deployments to Antarctica as Executive Officer on the icebreaker USCGC Glacier. Later he served as Captain of the USCGC Ingham, his captain’s logs and uniform are preserved at the USCGC Ingham museum in Key West. He concluded his career working on the future of the icebreaker program at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. At his retirement in 1991, he received special recognition for building relations between the Coast Guard and the global polar science community: “Captain Martin single-handedly changed the polar research community’s perception of the Coast Guard’s dedication to supporting modern science.” Retirement did not slow him down. He earned degrees and certifications in financial planning, computer networking and programming, horticulture, and transportation safety. He was a passionate advocate for bicycle safety policy for Palm Beach County and later for the State of Florida. He also led youth bicycle safety training for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. His website, AskGeo, remained an important resource on Florida bicycle safety laws and best practices for many years. In 2006, George moved to Saint Augustine. A master gardener, he transformed his yard into a vibrant haven and community landmark. He became active in environmental issues in St. Johns County, supporting the Matanzas Riverkeeper and advocating to preserve the region’s environment and expand safe public access to its natural areas. He was a fixture of the St. Augustine South waterfront, always accompanied by his beloved dog, Healey. An avid fisherman, he embodied the best of the “Florida man” spirit. Fearless in the face of gators, sharks, snakes, and armadillos, he was often found on 100-mile bicycle rides or kayaking the waterways of his beloved state. George’s passions extended to sports, particularly soccer and rugby. He fell in love with soccer in the early 1970s during his Coast Guard years competing on his ship’s team against teams from New Zealand, Mexico and Peru. He never missed a World Cup and enjoyed watching almost every match this summer. George is survived by his son, Brian Martin, and his wife Karen, of St. Augustine; his daughters, Jessie Martin and her husband Jacob Wobig, of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Carrie Fricker and her husband Keith, of Davie, Florida; and his grandchildren, Kendall, Ben, Sylvie, and Bodie. His family will hold a private celebration of George’s life at a future date, carrying out his request that his cremated remains be scattered at sea. St. Johns Family Funeral Home is serving the Martin family. In lieu of flowers, the best ways to remember George are to plant a flower or pet a dog, or, if you are so inclined, to offer a donation to the Matanzas Riverkeeper.

George Frederick Martin

October 15, 1940 - August 18, 2026