John Martin Santa Rosa Junior College

Topic: The Pythagorean Proposition and the Enduring Beauty of Mathematics

Abstract: To be announced

Biography: John Martin was born and raised in Riverside California where he learned to dislike smog and congested freeways. After graduating from Humboldt State College (now University!) with a BA in mathematics, he began teaching at the junior high school level in Glendale California. John remained at Clark Junior High for two and a half years (aging 10 years during that time). When a position became available at Crescenta Valley High School he took it and taught there for four years. During this time John took classes at the University of Southern California and earned his MA in mathematics with the main goal of moving up on the salary schedule. He later realized that this qualified him for teaching at the junior college level and began looking for a place to settle down permanently. In the Fall of 1981 John was hired to teach full time in the math department at Santa Rosa Junior College and has taught here ever since.

In addition to his wife, his family includes three daughters, a son, two grandsons, one granddaughter (thanks Rose), three cats, and a dog. He plans to retire in 2020 (with perfect hindsight) in order to pursue his hobby of growing Pythagorean trees.