Joan Gilbert Martin

Joan lived a rich, engaged life in Santa Cruz for over fifty years. She was a lauded technical writer in the computer industry. She learned programming in the early 1960s at Douglas Aircraft and System Development Corporation in Los Angeles. Then she worked for Control Data Corporation in Palo Alto, and Hewlett Packard and Tandem Computers in Silicon Valley. She was also a skilled creative writer and editor. She loved local history and used these talents as a longtime member of the Museum of Art & History Publications committee and the editorial committees of the first nine history journals published by the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History. In addition, she was the main editor for History Journal 6, Pathways to the Past, and History Journal 8, Do You Know My Name? She also volunteered at UC Santa Cruz Special Collections’ archive, transcribing historic texts, and co-authored the book, Pogonip, Jewel of Santa Cruz. She wrote local history articles and collaborated with local historian, Stan Stevens on research, articles, and books. In 2009, Joan was named Historian of the Year by the MAH History Forum and, in 2022, she was entered into the Researchers Anonymous “Historians Hall of Fame” where she joins Leon Rowland, whose book, Santa Cruz: The Early Years, piqued her interest in local history.

Joan was an active participant and long-time supporter of the arts community of Santa Cruz, first with her late husband, artist, and jeweler Don Martin, and later with her many friends. Like her mother, Grace, Joan loved clothing and fabrics and developed a strong sense of style, she always looked great. She and her husband Don designed and sewed clothing including elegant patchwork skirts, one of which is in the MAH’s permanent collection. She made clothes for her girls and taught them how to sew. She loved attending plays, and gallery openings and exhibitions, and was an enthusiastic mah-jongg player. Additionally, she loved to read and watch movies. She enjoyed hosting small gatherings of friends and family at her home and meeting new people. For over 40 years she was a dedicated practitioner of Tai Chi, and her form was highly praised by her most recent teacher. Joan liked to travel, and often visited Hawaii, where members of her family live, and Mexico, where she had dear friends. As a young child she lived in France, and over the years visited India, Morocco, Alaska, Thailand, Cambodia, and Chile, including Patagonia. She was an avid gardener and grew many varieties of roses and salvias. Watching the birds that came to her garden was a constant joy, and she kept them well fed.

Joan was born in Veere, Netherlands, where her parents, Grace and William Morris Gilbert, Jr., were on vacation while living in France. In 1937, her family returned to the US and settled in New York. Joan spent her teenage years in New Hope, PA. She attended Barnard College and studied anthropology with Ruth Benedict. She went on to St. John’s College with her husband to be, Hugh McKay, the great books school, in Annapolis, MD, where she graduated as part of its first class of women. She lived in Carbondale, Colorado; Ajijic, Mexico; and Venice, California; before coming to Santa Cruz in 1966, and settling there permanently.

Joan is survived by her two beloved daughters (with late husband Hugh McKay) Rachel McKay of Santa Cruz and Jessica (Glenn) Tateishi of Guam, her brother Tony Gilbert, and his wife Laurel, and as well as her nephew Sam Gilbert and niece Jennifer Gilbert. She has two granddaughters, Naomi Malia (Alan) Arizo and Shilah Hilinaikeakua (Tim) Farry, and three great-granddaughters, Jael Kauanoeanuhea Arizo, Olivia Lazuli Farry, and Pearl Joan Farry, all of whom she loved dearly and spoke of often.

Please consider donations in Joan’s memory to:

Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries

Museum of Art & History Santa Cruz (MAH)

MAH Publications Committee

Homeless Garden Project, Santa Cruz

Housing Matters

Land Trust of Santa Cruz County

Common Cause

Earth Justice

Or to an organization of your choice.