General | 8/15/2025 5:37:00 PM
Oberlin, Ohio - The Oberlin College community and the John W. Heisman Club are saddened to share the passing of one of the Crimson and Gold's most passionate supporters, Martin Dugan, known by his Oberlin friends and lifelong teammates simply as Marty. One of the founders of the John W. Heisman Club and an active member of the Lakewood, Ohio, community, Marty passed peacefully after a hard-fought battle with brain cancer on July 15, 2025, at the age of 73.
"To all of us — and to Oberlin — Marty was more than important. He was foundational. Marty helped define the vision and scope of the Heisman Club when it was founded in 1979, and he remained actively involved in shaping its role and reach." Associate Vice President for Athletics Advancement and Delta Lodge Director of Athletics & Physical Education, Natalie Winkelfoos, remarks, "That passion lives on in the work we do and the community we continue to build together. Marty epitomizes the belief that 'care is our competitive advantage' and, through his example, that belief will continue to guide us."
Marty came to Oberlin College in 1969 from St. Edward's High School in Lakewood, Ohio, and graduated in 1973 with an A.B. in sociology and physical education. While at Oberlin, he excelled on the court as a four-year letter winner of the basketball team. He played 85 games during his tenure and led the Yeomen to the 1970 Ohio Athletic Conference tournament title with a 65-58 victory over Wittenberg. Marty, a team captain and an outstanding ball handler, dished out 155 assists during the 1971-72 season, setting a single-season school record that remains today (7.38 apg).
His talents extended off the court, where he flexed his skills on the golf course and earned a varsity letter each of his four years on the team. A natural leader, Marty also served as team captain and coach during his senior season.
Heisman Club Past-President and close friend, Carla Freyvogel '79, reflects on her early memories of Marty, "I first met Marty as a first-year at Oberlin, who searched widely to find running partners. Marty (who then worked for the College) and biology professor Dick Levin quickly became my chosen companions. Marty was always so kind, thoughtful, and considerate. Marty was fiercely committed to the student-athlete experience and not just at Oberlin. For him, sports created community and nurtured grit that could find application throughout adult life. He gave the Heisman Club his unconditional support. He generously gave his time, talents, and treasures to initiatives that benefited student-athletes. He held fast to his basketball teammates, keeping them close all his life."
After graduating from Oberlin, Dugan enrolled at Central Michigan University and earned a Master of Arts in Educational Administration in 1975. He returned to Oberlin in 1977 as Assistant Director of the Alumni Association and remained with the College until 1981. After leaving Oberlin, Marty maintained a long and successful career with Herman Miller, Inc., in Holland, Michigan, as the Vice President for Facility Management. Despite the geographical distance from Oberlin, Marty remained actively involved within the Crimson and Gold community.
"When Oberlin College Athletics was at a vulnerable moment in its history, Marty stepped in and helped right the ship. He and other founders of the Heisman Club provided a vision for sports at Oberlin, creating a vital foundation for a thriving athletics program today." Current President of the Heisman Club, John Charles '87, recounts Marty's impact, "Marty's commitment to Oberlin College remains a source of inspiration to me, and I am grateful to him for what he created and what we can continue to accomplish because of his leadership and vision."
Fellow Heisman Club Board member, George Bundy Smith Jr. '87, will remember Marty as a catalyst for change: "Marty was an inspiration to many of us. He fought cancer with courage and grace. I served with him on the Heisman Club board for over 20 years and always appreciated his leadership and perspective. He was always positive and upbeat."
No stranger to philanthropy, Marty supported more than 20 non-profit organizations with missions including education, environmental causes, and the welfare of special needs and underserved children. Locally, Martin developed and funded the Marty T. and Terrence M. Dugan Scholarship at St. Edward High School and generously donated to the St. Ignatius High School Endowment Fund in honor of Hubert F. and Timothy F. Dugan.
James' JD' Donovan '61, a lifelong friend and colleague of Marty's, notes, "As club president, then treasurer, and later as a member of several of the club's committees, he continued to show his love for and his dedication to Oberlin Athletics even as he was going through some very trying personal times. Marty's vision of an organization that could and would continue to grow in its support of all Oberlin Athletics has come to pass, and his efforts have been a significant part of making that happen. As staunch supporters of OC Athletics, we all owe a debt of gratitude to Marty."
Marty's family will greet friends on Saturday, August 16, to celebrate his life and legacy. In lieu of flowers, his family asks that those consider a contribution in memory of Dugan to the Cleveland Clinic's Rose Ell Burkhardt Brain Tumor and Neuro-Oncology Center for patient care and research endeavors. Read Dugan's full obituary by clicking here.
Keep up with the Crimson and Gold on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, and watch every home game on the Oberlin Sports Network online or on Roku, Apple TV, or Amazon Fire TV.
