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Martin Van Pelt ’86

September 9, 2019, in Cavtat, Croatia.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Martin spent most of his life in Boulder, Colorado. He attended Reed for two years and graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Colorado in Boulder. Martin worked at Picosecond Pulse Labs in Boulder, where he was vice president, chief engineer, and part owner. Passionate about engineering, solving problems, and documentation, he loved his work. He enjoyed getting to know his coworkers and sharing his kind and gentle way with others. Engineering, backcountry skiing, cycling, hiking, and sailing were life passions for Martin. He knew all the best ski tours and hikes in the Colorado mountains and spent countless happy days sharing them with family and friends. He spent last winter exploring the ski slopes and villages of the European Alps. In 2015, he and his wife, Sarah, began spending summers sailing in France and the Mediterranean.

Sailing was a perfect choice for Martin; in addition to the adventure, there were many systems for him to learn about, optimize (Martinize), and document.

The cause of death was likely food poisoning suffered while living on his sailboat with his wife, Sarah. She survives him, as do his parents, Richard and Marianne Van Pelt; his siblings Stefanie and Tom; his stepmother, Caroline Van Pelt; and his step-brothers, David and Robb Duff.

Appeared in Reed magazine: March 2018

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