Robert P. Martin

Robert Paul Martin

November 10, 1954 - September 16, 2026

Robert Paul Martin, known to all as Rob, of Palos Heights, formerly of Evergreen Park, passed away at his home on September 16, 2026, at the age of 71.

Born in 1954 in Chicago, Robert was the son of Robert A. Martin and Geraldine Martin. He grew up in the South Shore before moving to the East Side of Chicago. As a boy he hung around his grandfather's gas station in South Shore, where he became a gearhead before he was even old enough to drive. He picked up the drums at age 10 and never really put them down. A student and parishioner at Our Lady of Peace in South Shore, he went on to St. Francis de Sales High School, graduating in 1972. There he joined the marching band under his band director, who, as the story goes, practically begged Robert to carry the bass drum, because he was the only one who could keep time.

Robert met the love of his life, Michelle Martin, in 1970, at a Boy Scout and Girl Scout party he attended only to repay a favor to a friend, since he wasn't a scout himself. As he always told it, he fell in love with her on sight. The two were inseparable from then on, attending every dance and prom at each other's schools, and Robert thought nothing of taking multiple buses across the city to see Shelley when she lived at 80th and California. In 1976, shortly after Shelley earned her nursing degree at Saint Xavier University, the two were married. They honeymooned in Hawaii and began their life together in Beverly before settling in Evergreen Park, where they raised their two sons in the St. Bernadette Parish community and where both boys went on to St. Rita High School.

Above all, Robert loved his family. He was devoted to his sons and deeply involved in their childhoods, coaching baseball for both boys throughout their growing-up years. He cherished his own parents, and he embraced Shelley's family as his own. He was especially close to her mother, Helen, and in her final days he helped Shelley care for her through hospice. He delighted in his many nieces and nephews, whom he loved dearly, and in time for their children too, an ever-growing extended family that meant the world to him. Some of his happiest days were spent at the family cottage, where he loved getting away with the kids.

Robert built his career in powder coating, a craft he mastered over decades. He became a manager at Candle Corp, ran the powder coating line at Federated Paint, and served as operations manager at Abbey Finishing. His last and most cherished job was at Weber Grill.

Music ran through so much of Robert's life. A drummer for more than six decades, he played in several bands over the years, beginning with Group Society and Quarry, the latter formed with his childhood friend John R. One band stayed close to his heart, and he loved reminiscing about it for the rest of his life. With them he toured Hawaii alongside the Talking Heads, played in multiple Loopfests, and took the stage at all the big venues in Chicago. Somewhere along the way he even jammed with Buddy Guy and Stevie Ray Vaughan in passing. Among his most prized possessions was a big red satin flame drum set that had appeared in the first Blues Brothers film before it came into his hands.

In later years, Robert joined a band with his best friend, Tommy B., on bass and vocals, and Steve S. on guitar, with Joe I. later joining in on guitar and lead vocals. They recorded many songs together and became a fixture at venues across the Chicago area, including the House of Blues, Durbins, Trio, Bobby McGees, Tailgaters, Mama Vesuvio's, and Krapil's Steakhouse & Patio. As skilled with his hands as he was behind the kit, Robert built and finished drums as a lifelong hobby, assembling a large collection over the years.

In Palos Heights, Robert found real joy outdoors. He tended to a garden that gave him tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, and cucumbers, took up birdwatching, and kept the backyard feeders full. He loved watching his beagle, Max, run in the big yard. A lifelong animal lover, he had a soft spot for every animal he ever took in, most recently Max and his black cat, Brucie. He and Shelley loved to travel together in their later years, taking cruises whenever they could, and they treasured the new friends they made in the neighborhood, with many an evening spent together around a card table.

Robert is survived by his loving wife of nearly 50 years, Michelle "Shelley" Martin, and his two sons, Christopher and Erik. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert A. and Geraldine Martin.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Robert's name to A Leg to Stand On (https://www.altso.org/donate) or to PAWS Tinley Park (https://pawstinleypark.org/donate/), in honor of his lifelong love of animals.

He kept perfect time to the very end.