Obituary: Martin Grant Magoun

December 30, 1961 – July 28, 2026

August 6, 2026

Martin Grant Magoun, 1961-2026

Martin Grant Magoun, 64, passed away at his home in Topsham, Vermont, on July 28, 2026. He leaves behind a life marked by extraordinary curiosity, generosity, resilience, craftsmanship and a deep love for the people and places that shaped him.

Born on December 30, 1961, in Yuma City, California, to Clinton Brooks Magoun and Priscilla Metalious, Martin spent much of his childhood in Vermont, where the Green Mountains ignited a lifelong passion for skiing, adventure and the outdoors. His father, Clinton, took Martin and his sister Lisabeth to the White Mountains, climbing to the top of Mount Washington many times and camping overnight.

From an early age, Martin was a gifted skier, spending countless hours carving Vermont slopes in pursuit of excellence. His talent led him to Burke Mountain Academy, where he balanced rigorous athletic training with an enduring love of philosophy and the humanities. He went on to compete at an elite level, earning a place on the U.S. Ski Team as one of the nation’s fastest giant slalom and downhill racers. At one point, he was among the top 100 fastest skiers in the world. Even after suffering multiple broken legs, Martin’s determination never wavered. He always found his way back to the mountains he loved.

Martin graduated from Williams College, an accomplishment he remained deeply proud of throughout his life.

His career reflected his remarkable range of talents and his desire to help others. He coached aspiring Olympic skiers at Green Mountain Valley School, taught children at Allen Brook School, worked in social services, owned a successful professional painting business, conducted paralegal research for Vermont attorneys, and became a master carpenter and craftsman. Whatever work he pursued, he approached it with intelligence and unwavering integrity.

On his land, passed down from the family since the 1800s, he designed and built his own home: a traditional post-and-beam barn. He honored generations before him, generously hosting family and friends who could gather around campfires beneath the stars, enjoy hayrides, and celebrate the beauty of living close to the land. He worked hard to make these things happen, as the unsung hero who labored so others could enjoy. He was a passionate steward of nature and believed deeply in protecting green spaces and living simply.

Martin’s adventurous spirit extended well beyond the mountains. He earned his captain’s license and spent years sailing the East Coast, piloting boats from Massachusetts to Florida and back again. His beloved Tahiti Ketch, Sway, became a labor of love as he painstakingly restored the vessel, even constructing its multi-ton keel by hand. He also cherished another sailboat, Diligence, and treasured every opportunity to be under sail. For several years, he and Victoria were members of the Hull Yacht Club, enjoying time there on Sway and the Hull community. He was known at the club for his Herculean strength: at one time he carried an enormous wooden mast from the dock and placed it strategically on a member’s sailboat. People were quite simply amazed.

Martin adored the mountains of the west, spending time in the Rockies, the Tetons, and the Sawtooths. During his college years, he spent summers working at The Timberline Lodge, at Mount Hood, Oregon. He often dreamed of a bigger life under western skies.

A lifelong student of the human experience, Martin was an accomplished writer, poet, philosopher, and researcher. With the encouragement and support of his partner, Victoria, he self-published two books, “Shattered,” a collection of poetry, and “Russian Roulette,” an exploration of depression. He completed 11 manuscripts over his lifetime and, in recent years, embraced haiku as his favorite form of artistic expression.

His intellectual curiosity knew few boundaries. Martin studied the Bible, the Quran, the Talmud, world history, Zen Buddhism, yoga, and countless philosophical traditions, always seeking a deeper understanding of humanity, compassion, and peace. His conversations were thoughtful, probing, and filled with genuine curiosity. His empathy ran so deep that he often carried the burdens of others as though they were his own.

Perhaps above all else, Martin was generous. He frequently and quietly paid for everyone’s meals (often having the least in his bank account). He offered his skills without expectation, and gave his time freely. He was creative, capable, supportive, patient, and endlessly compassionate. He loved deeply and found great joy in caring for those around him, especially his partner’s daughters and grandchildren, whom he embraced as family.

He treasured adventures both near and far, including recent extensive travels through Italy with Victoria, and was actively planning future trips. He was working at the Round Barn, earning money to put toward their third trip to Italy. His fellow employees brought him light and laughter. In addition, he was actively exploring new treatments for his depression.

Martin was preceded in death by his parents, Clinton Brooks Magoun and Priscilla Metalious; his stepfather, George Metalious; and his beloved sister, Lisabeth Magoun.

He is lovingly remembered by his partner of nearly 18 years, Victoria Taylor Smith of Waitsfield, Vermont; Victoria’s daughters, Ariel Taylor Smith and Andrea Taylor Smith, and their children, whom he cherished as his own grandchildren; his sister, Stefania Metalious; his niece, Meredith Magoun, and her husband, Alex Grosby; his aunt Abby; his uncle Jeffrey; many cousins; and an extended family of friends gathered through decades of skiing, sailing, building, writing, and simply sharing life.

Martin’s family also wishes to acknowledge that he lived with depression for many years. Like so many who face this illness, he fought with remarkable courage and continued to make plans for the future and dreamed of adventures yet to come. He was in the process of gathering updated ways to help with his ailment. His life was far greater than this disease. He will be remembered not for how he died, but for how generously, thoughtfully, and fully he lived.

Those fortunate enough to know Martin will remember a man who sought wisdom, built with his hands, loved with his whole heart, and found beauty in mountains, oceans, forests, and quiet moments beneath the stars. His legacy lives on in the many lives he touched.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Martin’s life on Saturday, Aug. 15, from 3 to 5 p.m., location provided upon RSVP, where stories, laughter, and memories will be shared in the spirit of the gatherings he loved. To attend, please email arieltaylorsmith@gmail.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Martin’s memory to World Central Kitchen or Doctors Without Borders, organizations that reflect his lifelong compassion for people around the world.