Dr. Donald Edward Martin passed away on March 9, 2026, in the place he called home for almost four decades – Christ House in Washington, DC – surrounded by loved ones.
Born in 1929 into a traditional Mennonite community, Don’s life began in a two-story log house without electricity, telephone, heating, or indoor plumbing. From those humble beginnings, raised in a culture where few continued education beyond the eighth grade, he went on to become a physician.
For many years, Dr. Martin practiced medicine in Hagerstown, Maryland. However, over time, both Dr. Martin and his beloved wife, Ellen, were increasingly drawn into deeper questions of faith, justice, peace, and poverty – guided by scripture and especially the teachings of Jesus. Answering that call, Dr. Martin and Ellen began traveling to Washington, DC to volunteer at Columbia Road Health Services and with So Others Might Eat (SOME).
There, he encountered suffering that stayed with him. As he once wrote, patients were discharged from hospitals with prescriptions they could not afford and were “turned out on the street with no way of getting the prescription filled.” He also remembered “the faces of homeless men standing in line for food and medical and dental care.” Even after stepping away for a time, these experiences remained with him and shaped his discernment.
Gradually, he came to recognize a deeper call to serve in Washington full-time. “Simply put, Don’s journey here was a continuation of his search and quest to be a faithful follower of Jesus, and share that story of love and forgiveness with others”, wrote Mary Jordan, Chief Nursing Officer, in a 2009 publication of Day by Day, the Christ House Newsletter. In March 1984, Dr. Martin and Ellen sold their home and medical practice in Hagerstown and relocated permanently to Washington, DC.
Soon after, Dr. Martin wrote in his journal words that would come to define the rest of his life:
“This is my home, Washington, D.C., and these are my people.”
The Christ House building was not only the place where Dr. Martin worked, but also where he raised his children, lived out the call of service, mentored countless staff and volunteers, and continued his own study of medicine. Dr. Martin is credited with introducing electronic medical records to Christ House and he was known for setting aside two hours each day towards study – the newest medical treatments, studies on various diseases, social issues and, of course, his faith. “His counsel is frequently sought by other providers and the nursing staff, as his many years in practice have given him a wisdom and practical approach that only time and experience can provide”, wrote Mary Jordan.
Dr. Martin was a true embodiment of the ministry of presence, understanding and modeling the way presence is a part of healing. He sat at bedsides, listened carefully, supported the patients, Kairos Members, volunteers, staff and community members who surrounded him, and offered care that honored the dignity of every person.
Dr. Martin was a founding presence in the life of Christ House, joining with others in faith to imagine and build a place where people experiencing homelessness and acute medical needs could be cared for in a holistic, compassionate way. It was Dr. Martin who treated Winston McCoy at a small health clinic and realized that Christ House needed to open ahead of schedule in order to accommodate him. That was the kind of physician Dr. Martin was- one that would advocate for his patients no matter the practical obstacles. And so, Christ House opened on Christmas Eve, because nothing was more important than caring for the person that sat in front of him.
Dr. Martin’s faith animated everything he did. He approached life with a deep trust in God’s guidance, discerning each step with care and attention to scripture. It was that faith that grounded and formed his values as a young person, gave him the courage to take on medical school, led him to Washington, D.C., sustained him in his work, and shaped his vision of a world more closely reflecting the Kingdom of God.
Dr. Martin remained here, in his home on an upper floor at Christ House, until his death. Until the end, the words he wrote in 1984 remained true: he had found his home, and he had found his people.
We trust that same faith has now brought him to his eternal home, in God’s presence, reunited with Ellen and surrounded by the communion of saints.
We give thanks for his life, for his witness, and for the community he helped to build, nourish and sustain – a community that continues to live out the call he so faithfully followed. Let us be encouraged by the words he wrote in 1983, as he was considering the call to move to D.C. –
“I’ve lived through the fears and hopes and hopes outweigh the fears.”
We hold Dr. Martin’s family in our hearts, wishing them strength and comfort during this time.
Dr. Martin was interviewed in October of 2025. To listen to the interview, please click here.
To read Dr. Martin’s obituary, please click here.
This remembrance incorporates reflections from the homily offered at Dr. Martin’s memorial at Christ House by Chaplain Charles Anderson-Gray, shared with gratitude.
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