Narragansett, RI – The world bids farewell to an extraordinary individual, Krista Maureen Martin, a beloved author, engineer, music lover, and chief practitioner of a philosophy who passed away peacefully at her home on November 30, 2023, at the age of 44.
Born in Providence to parents Rita and Shawn Martin, Krista moved to Westerly at the age of three, which became her cherished home. Her academic brilliance shone through early on, graduating sixth in her class from Westerly High School (WHS) in 1997. A gifted athlete, she earned four varsity letters each in soccer, basketball, and softball. But it was her love for music that truly set her apart. As a member of the WHS Marching Band for five years, she had the honor of participating in the Clinton Inaugural parade in Washington DC while still in eighth grade.
Krista’s pursuit of knowledge led her to the University of Rhode Island (URI), where she studied electrical engineering and joined the Rhody marching, concert, and pep bands. She also enrolled in the International Engineering program, spending a year in Munich, Germany – a decision she justified by stating, “if you’re going to study engineering, you do it in Germany.” After graduation, she lent her expertise to the Department of Defense at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport.
A globe-trotter at heart, Krista followed bands like Incubus, Sevendust, 311, Chili Peppers, and Our Lady Peace worldwide. Her passion for the TV show Supernatural led her to attend 87 conventions globally, forging personal friendships with the cast, crew, and fans across continents. Her resilience in battling her terminal illness moved the Supernatural community deeply, leading to a weekend convention in DC being named KristaCon in her honor.
Krista is survived by her parents, her brother Shawn Michael, his wife Sara, their five children, and her close friend and housemate of 15 years, Aaron Douglas. In a final act of selflessness, she donated her body to the Dana Farber “rapid autopsy” research program for Metastatic Melanoma research.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the “Krista Martin Band Geek Scholarship” for Westerly High School, a scholarship Krista established before her passing5. Visitors can pay their respects on Friday, Dec. 8th, from 5-7pm at Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life event will be held on Sunday, Dec 10th, at Venice Restaurant.
As we bid farewell to Krista Maureen Martin, we remember a life marked by kindness, curiosity, and courage.
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