GLOUCESTER: Richard L. “Dick” Martin, 81, of Bay View, died unexpectedly on Friday, February 18, 2011 at his residence. He was the husband of Jeanne M. (Vale) Martin.
Born in Gloucester on December 30, 1929, he was the son of the late Frank A. and Hulda E. (Hautamaki) Martin. He was a lifelong resident of Gloucester and graduate of Gloucester High class of 1947. He was also a graduate of the Waltham School of Watchmaking.
A U.S. Army veteran, he served during the Korean War and was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant in March of 1953. He was a longtime member of the Capt. Lester S. Wass Post #3, American Legion and former member of the Bay View Brotherhood Club.
Dick was employed for thirty-two years as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, having retired in 1989.
In his early years, he worked as a landscaper with his brother-in-law, Fred Jacobson. He was also the captain of the Sprite. In an Ipswich Bay Tuna Derby, they had a winning catch in 1949.
Proud of his Finnish heritage, he was a member of the Finnish American Heritage Society. He and Jeanne enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and also went to Finland twice. He enjoyed being outdoors tending to his vegetable garden in the summer and spent the fall getting his firewood ready for winter. He truly loved the snow and enjoyed telling people, “we’ve waited summer for this!” He will be greatly missed.
In addition to his wife of forty-four years, he is survived by his daughter, Susan L. Martin; and his son, Richard L. Martin, Jr., several nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by two sisters and a brother-in-law, Fanny and Fred Jacobson and Helena M. Martin; two brothers and sisters-in-law, F. Waldemar and Virginia Martin, Reino J. and Tevi Martin.
His funeral service will be held on Thursday morning in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester at 10 a.m. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 9 – 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to Guiding Eyes for the Blind, 611 Granite Springs Rd., Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 (www.guidingeyes.org). Interment will be held privately in the Calvary Cemetery.