Martin Bradshaw, age 82, a longtime resident of Placitas, NM, passed away after a brief illness at a local Albuquerque hospital on Monday, May 13, 2019 surrounded by family.
Martin was born on June 24, 1936 to Walter Daniel and Mildred Marie (Martin) Bradshaw in Pittsburg, Kansas and he was the oldest of their four children.
Martin lived in several places in Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri growing up. In his early teens, his family settled in Newton, Kansas and he graduated from Newton High School in 1954. Martin had many fond memories and stories to share about being a Newton High Railroader and working at his Dad's local Dairy Queen store during his high school years.
Martin received a B.S.E.E. from Wichita State University in 1958 and his M.S.E.E. in 1961. Martin attended Carnegie Institute of Technology on a Ford Foundation Fellowship from 1961 to 1963 and received a Ph.D. in electrical engineering in 1964. Martin was a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of New Mexico from 1963 – 1986 and returned from retirement to UNM again from 1991-1996. Martin won numerous local, regional and national teaching awards including the George Westinghouse Award from the ASEE in 1973 and the IEEE Centennial Medal in 2000. "Dr. B", as he was known by his students, loved his role as teacher and mentor. It was always amazing to his family how often we would run into former students in public and he generally remembered their names and even the year they graduated!
Martin is survived by his wife of 35 years, Jo of Placitas, NM. Martin is also survived by his daughters, Debby Cannon (Brian) and Janell Martínez (Dan) and step-children, Dusty Rinaldi (Willie), Cathy Wilson (Brian) and Jeff York, as well as his brother, Wally Bradshaw (Patty) of New Jersey, 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Martin was recently preceded in death by his sister, Lynda Tincher of Kansas and his son, Kevin Lee Bradshaw of Albuquerque, NM.
Martin was very involved with his family and stayed in touch with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews scattered throughout the country.
After retirement, Martin and his wife Jo, enjoyed traveling to dog shows across the country to show Jo's award winning Basenji's. They had many wonderful adventures and made many friends on their journeys. Martin was well known as someone who always had a joke to tell or story to share. Martin had a warm and outgoing personality and always made an effort to learn the name of anyone he was interacting with – from the wait staff at a restaurant, the checker at the grocery store or the counter agents at his local Placitas post office. You could truly say, Martin never met a stranger.
Martin was a supporter of the Placitas Community Library and was honored each year to play Santa at the Library's annual holiday event. With his fluffy white beard and his ability to easily interact with people of all ages, Martin made the perfect Santa!
Martin will be greatly missed by his family and friends!
Burial has taken place at a private cemetery in Placitas, NM. A memorial reception will be held on Friday, June 14, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. in the Centennial Engineering Center Stamm Room at the University of New Mexico.
If you would like to do something to honor Martin's life, please consider a donation to the Placitas Community Library or to a charity of your choice.