BLACKBURN, Martin J. Martin J. Blackburn, 67, of Kensington, passed away on Friday (March 12, 2004) at Hartford Hospital after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Born in the United Kingdom, Dr. Blackburn obtained bachelor (1958) and doctorate (1962) degrees from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.Subsequently he embarked upon a long and successful industrial and government career, of over 36 years, with the Boeing Company, the United States Air Force, and Pratt and Whitney. He retired from the position of Deputy Director of the Material and Process Laboratory at Pratt and Whitney in 2000. Post-retirement he joined the University of Connecticut as a Research Professor of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering in the Institute of Materials Science. Dr. Blackburn's early technical contributions included the definition of phase transformations in titanium systems. He led the initial development of titanium aluminides and invented nearly all of the first generation alloys; the crystallographic orientation between the alpha two and gamma phases is often referred to as the "Blackburn Relationship". Dr. Blackburn was an author of over 50 publications and held seven patents. In 2002 he was honored to receive the William Hunt Eisenman Award from ASM International, which recognizes unusual achievements in industry in the practical application of materials science and engineering through production or engineering use. Dr. Blackburn was cited "for contributions to the science and engineering of materials used in gas turbine engines, especially the introduction of advanced titanium and superalloys." He was a member of ASM since June 1985. Dr. Blackburn is survived by his wife of 43 years, Janette; a daughter, Lisa, and son-in-law, Kostas, of Washington, DC; a son, Paul of Hartford; his two brothers, Graham Blackburn and Roland Blackburn and their wives, Josephine and Susan, of the United Kingdom; and several nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Kensington Congregational Church, 312 Percival Avenue, Kensington. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Friendship Service Center, 241 Arch St., New Britain, CT, the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 509, Hartford 06141-0509, or to a charity of the donor's choice. Porter's Funeral Service in Kensington (www.portersfuneral.com) is in charge of arrangements.