Adrian Martin Pays Tribute to His Father, Who Passed Away 3 Weeks Before Below Deck Season 6 Began

Adrian Martin experienced a tragic loss only three weeks before he began filming this season of Below Deck. The chef's father, Donald Keith Martin, passed away after a battle with lung cancer, Adrian shared earlier this season.

Adrian commemorated the first anniversary of his father's passing with a lovely tribute on Instagram on January 31. "A year ago today, this beautiful soul passed away. Not a day goes by without feeling you in my heart. The warmth of your love and the softness of your soul makes me smile and forever keeps me whole. The beauty you brought forth in this world will resonate to the end of time. And all the birds will sing your song to mama ocean to whom you belong. Eternally grateful for all the memories by your side. The abundance of laughter, just watching the tide," Adrian shared in a post that featured a photo of his late father. "I wish I could hug you just one last time, hold you in my arms and see your sweet smile. I know our dance is eternal and we will meet again someday. Our souls [are] bound by love through eternity for ever more. Rest in peace my sweet papa."

The chef had been taking care of his father, a former yacht captain, prior to joining the M/Y Seanna crew in Tahiti as he battled stage 4 lung cancer, which Adrian said on Below Deck had "been going on for like a year and a half." Adrian told Kate Chastain in the Season 6 premiere episode that it had been "a hard past couple of months."

A young Adrian with his father, Donald.

Below Deck fans got to know the amazing person Adrian's father was through the chef's memories. "My father was my best friend. It was just heartbreaking to see him wither away," Adrian shared during an interview on Below Deck. "He didn't take s--t from anybody. He was just such a strong person. He gave me so much, so much love, so much empathy. He was just a really beautiful person."