Passing of Martha Newkirk

It is with great sadness that I inform you that Dr. Martha Newkirk, alumna, philanthropist and devoted Anteater, passed away on Sunday, May 18. She was 88 years old.

Martha Newkirk earned her bachelor’s degree in 1972, her master’s degree in 1976 and her Ph.D. in 1981, all in social ecology from UC Irvine. She was a past president of the UC Irvine Alumni Association and a past trustee of the UC Irvine Foundation board, where she served on the Executive Committee, chaired the Alumni and Student Relations Committee, and was a member of the Nomination and Board Development Committee. She also served on the Newkirk Center for Science & Society Advisory Board. She served on the University of California Board of Regents as alumni regent from 1989 to 1991.

The Newkirk Center for Science and Society was begun in 2001 with a generous donation from Martha and her beloved husband, James. The couple also made it possible for the campus to build the Newkirk Alumni Center, a campus hub for alumni and their many activities. They endowed two fellowships in social ecology, and their name is on the Newkirk Pavilion at Anteater Ballpark.

In 1993, Martha received the UC Irvine Medal, the campus’s highest distinction. Two years later she was honored with the UC Irvine Alumni Association’s Lauds & Laurels award.

Martha Newkirk set the gold standard for alumni on how to give back to their alma mater, both philanthropically and as a volunteer. She leaves behind her an indelible mark on the campus she loved. We offer our deepest condolences to her husband, Jim, and her children, Maria and Jose.

Chancellor Howard Gillman