Martin Gen

Martin Gen, 91, died in his Cranford home on October 16. Born in Newark in 1926, he was the middle son of Max and Gussie Gen. Marty enlisted in the US Navy at the age of sixteen and landed on Utah Beach on D-Day for which he was awarded the Purple Heart. He served on the USS Midway as a radio operator before being honorably discharged. He attended Syracuse & Pace University and then returned to New Jersey and married Sara Tobin. They lived in Elizabeth before moving to Cranford where they had two children.

Marty started MERLIN, a fabric dyeing company in North Bergen. After selling the company, he began a private investigation firm until he retired. A life long supporter of the state of Israel, Marty and Sara owned a home in Tel Aviv where they spent their winters for 40 years. Marty made friends everywhere he went. He spoke at length with every waiter, postal worker and bank teller and brought cold drinks to the garbage men on his street. He was an avid dog-lover, always carrying treats in his pockets for the neighborhoods dogs and his own. He donated to numerous charities and was always ready with a joke or two.

Marty lived for his family, opening his home to his children’s friends and giving them everything he could. He was a devoted grandfather who wrote a letter every day to anyone away at summer camp. He took his grandchildren on train rides and never missed a school play or graduation. Martin Gen is survived by his wife of 67 years, Sara, his children, Gilda, Sam and Marietta, his grandchildren, Rachel and Dean, Jordana and Aaron, and his great-grandson, Jake.

Donations may be made to the Marty Gen Tribute Fund at the Jewish National Fund by visiting http://support.jnf.org/goto/Martygen