Obituary of Martin S. Stabb

Martin S. Stabb, 93, of State College, died Wednesday, November 3, 2021, at Mount Nittany Medical Center. During his life, he enjoyed travel, sailing, fishing, and teaching each new batch of students. A professor emeritus of Spanish, he headed the Department of Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese at Penn State, and before that was Chair of the Department of Romance Languages at the University of Missouri.

Born April 5, 1928, in Brooklyn, NY, Martin was the son of the late Saul and Rose Vivian (Falk) Stabb.

Martin is survived by his wife Gloria (Lipstein) Stabb, whom he married on June 19, 1949. Their three children also survive, Sally D. Stabb and her life partner, Martin Mahony of Carrollton, TX, David Stabb and his wife Barbara of Lancaster, and Jonathan Stabb and his wife Kristen of Spring Mills.

Martin attended college at Rutgers and earned his PhD from UCLA. He authored several books, including a biography of Jorge Luis Borges and In Quest of Identity, a study of Spanish American essays. An avid fly fisherman, his largest catch was a 28-inch rainbow trout, caught in southern Argentina.

Martin was a member of Congregation Brit Shalom.

Known for his sense of humor, if Martin were alive to have written his obituary, it would have been much funnier.

A private graveside service will be in Centre County Memorial Park with Rabbi David Ostrich officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Clearwater Conservancy, Donate | ClearWater (clearwaterconservancy.org)

Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.