Menlo Park Blast Victim Remembered As Wonderful Husband, Father
MENLO PARK (KCBS) – The wife of the scientist who was killed in Friday afternoon's explosion at a Menlo Park laboratory said the couple moved to the Bay Area from Romania to help their teenage daughter pursue her goal of a career in music.
Livia Martin, the widow of 56-year-old Adrian Martin, describes him as a wonderful scientist, husband and father. She said she knew he mixed gases from one cylinder to another as part of his job at Membrane Technology and Research in Menlo Park. But he told her it was routine and never indicated it might be unsafe.
KCBS' Anna Duckworth Reports:
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Martin said her husband was a chemical engineer researcher in Romania. They decided to move to the U.S. in 2007 with their now 17-year-old daughter, with whom Adrian was very close.
"He wanted to make sure that she was going to have everything that she needed to pursue her career in music," Martin said.
She said her daughter wants to continue pursuing a career as a pianist.
The family is making funeral arrangements on Saturday.
Menlo Park Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman said Martin and another employee were transferring separate canisters of methane, helium and nitrogen into one container when the explosion occurred.
One other worker was injured and the other 23 employees were evacuated from the building.
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