A Tribute To My Brother Martin

Martin was an inspiration to all who knew him.  On May 29th he was diagnosed with pneumonia and cancer, just two days after his former wife died of cancer.

Like the rest of us, Martin wasn’t perfect.  However, his qualities certainly outweighed his detriments. He was a kind, and generous man, who would subtly teach the principles of life.  He was humble about his accomplishments and was a good listener.

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Even as a child Martin was kind and protected his younger siblings.  My brother Robert remembers when he was in kindergarten and Martin was in the first grade, how they were being harassed by older children and had to run from them.  Robert had a brace on his leg at the time due to polio and couldn’t move fast, so Martin kindly told him that he would help him run by holding his hand and pulling him.  They were able to run to safety, and Robert felt so loved and cared for.

My brother was adventurous.  He wanted to be a nurse in the 60’s when men weren’t nurses.  He got pretty far but had to drop out due to finances.  He was a Marine, and had a Black Belt in the Martial Arts.  He taught Martial Arts to children, and was also a choirmaster. He studied photography, wrote music, dabbled in magic, and played the guitar. He was a writer, and worked as a stunt man on TV.  He even worked as a mortician as a young man, and entertained children in the hospital as a clown. 

Martin was a single parent.  He had three children and supported them by working for the telephone company in L.A.  In his later years he enjoyed working as a guard in the L.A. shipyards.  Martin was humble.  He didn’t brag about his accomplishments and instead listened with encouragement, and without judgment. 

For me, Martin was my rock growing up, and my spiritual buddy as an adult.  He always listened to me and supported me. Living many miles apart in California, we would talk several times a month about the purpose of life and contemplate the mysteries involving the various dimensions of life.  He believed that God is everywhere, that we are the physical manifestation of God, and that God experiences life through us. 

I would like to share with you what one of his many grandchildren, Jessica, wrote on Facebook recently.  The message exemplifies the love he gave to his family and to others:

“My grandpa is my inspiration.  He was, and is, the light that shines through all my darkness.  Every time I felt like all my walls were closing in, he would see and offer a few words of wisdom that eventually helped me to help myself break free.  He always supported me in any and all of my decisions in my life, even if he didn't really agree with them.  He used to tell me that he's very proud of me -- especially in my music. He bought me my first guitar when I was 12, taught me how to tune it, the many different chords, and the fingering.  Though I don't remember it all, he would always teach every time I saw him, and not just in music.  I love my Grandpa! I miss my Grandpa!”

By the end of June Martin entered the hospital for the third time to fight the pneumonia, but with the cancer riddling his body the antibiotics no longer worked.  Martin died gracefully the evening of July 5th of this year, leaving a legacy of love.

Love and Peace,
Mary