Bloomington, Ind. - Dave Martin, former Director of the IU Varsity Club and a pioneer in athletic fundraising, passed away this morning in Bloomington. He was 81.
Martin joined the IU Foundation in 1969 to work on the university's sesquicentennial celebration before moving to Athletics two years later as the third director of the IU Varsity Club. For the next 35 years, Martin played a leadership role in IU Athletics, either as the Varsity Club director, Associate Athletic Director, or as a Special Advisor to the department and its fund-raising body. During those three-plus decades he spearheaded the department's fundraising efforts and revolutionized the field.