Jack Harrison Martin, age 25, of Sarasota, Florida passed away peacefully with family on May 30th, 2025, in Asheville, North Carolina.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 31st, 1999, Jack and his family moved to Sarasota when he was 2, where he developed a lifelong love for the ocean, beaches and marine life. Jack was a talented athlete and gifted scholar who excelled in math and science and had a hidden talent for creative writing and other arts, such as drawing and ceramics.

Jack was smart and curious from a young age and interested in many things like Marine Biology, Greek mythology, WW II history, collecting fossils and chess. At 8 years old, Jack placed in the Top 50 out of 10,000 entries in the Florida Studio Theater international playwriting competition. He developed an early interest in chess, winning high school tournaments in elementary and continuing to study throughout his life by playing online internationally and teaching others the game.

Jack attended Riverview High School and served three years as class Treasurer while earning a full college scholarship through Florida Bright Futures program. While keeping a heavy academic load, Jack still found time for work, volunteering and fun extracurriculars including sports, cotillion, Air Band competitions, fundraisers, parade floats, Sarasota Bay Watch and more. He also traveled to Italy three times, enjoying Mediterranean cities, culture and family life abroad.

A natural athlete, Jack stood 6’3” tall and loved sports, including baseball, basketball, swimming, skiing, skimboarding, fishing, mountain biking, fencing and pickleball. During summers in the Bahamas and BVI, he earned seven NAUI dive certifications on Sea Trek marine expeditions in jr. open water, advanced open water, rescue, wreck, night, navigation and underwater ecology.

Jack was an old and gentle soul. He had a brilliant mind, wonderful sense of humor, huge heart and fantastic head of hair. Wise beyond his years, he was insightful, empathic and generous. His engaging smile and beautiful laugh brought joy to any room and endeared him to people of all ages. Until his end, he never hesitated to help someone in need.

As he leaves us, we are humbled by his courage, persistence and strength facing a terrible disease that took so much from him before it took him from us. Jack was a wonderful and loving son, brother, and friend who touched people from all walks of life. Although his time with us was short, he leaves a wide wake.

Jack is survived by his parents, Stephen Paul Martin and Laura Lynd Martin, and his sister, Ellie Lynd Martin; as well as a large family of and aunts, uncles and cousins from Texas, Florida, California, Illinois and Italy.

We are placing Jack's ashes into a Memorial Reef that will be rest in Sarasota Bay and create an eternal habitat for beautiful coral reefs and exotic fish.  To donate in Jack's memory and support reef restoration worldwide: https://www.networkforgood.or…

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