Martin D. McKay, Ph.D.

Martin D. McKay, Ph.D., who lived at Vista Cove Condominiums, died July 1, 2011, at the Bailey Family Center for Caring after battling cancer.

He served on St. Johns County’s TDC Category II funding panel and was active in St. Augustine’s Romanza planning.

He loved jazz and LP records, travel, sailing and the theater. He directed and acted in theatrical productions in Kentucky, North Carolina and Ohio. He sang with Carol, his wife of more than 50 years, in folk, community and church choirs, including the St. Augustine Community Chorus.

He was born June 8, 1937, to Don and Helen McKay of Flint, Michigan. He earned music education degrees from Florida Southern University and Eastern Kentucky University.

He taught vocal and instrumental music for more than 25 years in schools in Florida, Tennessee, Georgia and Kentucky. Between 1968 and 1979, he taught music at Garrard County (KY) Schools, directed school theater productions and sponsored educational trips throughout the region.

After earning a Ph.D. in special education from The Ohio State University, he was coordinator of gifted and talented education for the Cambridge (Ohio) City Schools and later for Guernsey County (Ohio). He greatly enjoyed mentoring. Throughout his life, his mission was to challenge students to be ambitious and to realize their potential.

He is survived by his wife Carol McKay; daughter, Katherine (Marc) Levy; and grandson, Aaron Levy of Fredonia, N.Y.; sister, Margaret McKay; and brothers Bruce McKay of Tampa, Fla., and Chester McKay of Hendersonville, N.C.

A celebration of his life will be held at the Vista Cove Clubhouse on Masters Drive from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday, July 10, 2011.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Community Hospice or Romanza.

Watts Funeral Home, Palatka, is in charge of arrangements.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News staff photographer