Martha Dixon Popp, age 77, passed peacefully in her sleep at home on August 10, 2023, after two years of struggle with ALS.

Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Martha grew up in a loving family of Hoosiers. She held a B.A. from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, where she was on the first women’s intercollegiate swim team, and later received a second BA in Communication Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Martha was a Speech Pathologist, and she was on the faculty of Middleton High School for 20 years.

With two other educators Martha helped to found the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network of South Central Wisconsin, and organized the Safe Zone program; established the Week of Respect; promoted the Day of Silence; and worked to end homophobia and transphobia at her high school. She educated many audiences about the importance of being a visible and out lesbian teacher, role model, and ally for LGBTQ+ youth.

In the mid 80s, Martha and Alix sued the YMCA for denial of a family membership, which paved the way for Madison’s Domestic Partner Ordinance. In 1997, Martha received the Woman of the Year award from The United (the LGBTQ+ community and resource center in Madison). In 2001, she received the Distinguished Alumna award from the University of Wisconsin for her work “vigorously ensuring that every child in every K-12 school learns to respect and accept all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.”

Martha met Alix in 1974, and they fell in love in 1976. They lived in Madison for 32 years where they co-parented her son Tim and daughter Emily with Martha’s former husband. After 47 years of love and laughter, joy and pain, Martha and Alix finally were legally married in May 2010.

Martha leaves behind her beloved family and furry friends Max and Koko.