James H. Martin passed peacefully on Sunday morning, December 01 2019 at home in Eastham, MA. Jim, as he was also known, lived his life on his own terms, including a decision to spend his last three years enjoying life rather than undergoing additional cancer treatments.
Born on dairy farm in Baraboo, WI on September 27 1933, Jim literally travelled the world, always learning and always curious. He had no strangers in his world - only interesting people he had not yet met.
After a short stint at the University of Wisconsin, he enlisted in the US Navy. He served first on surface craft, until he joined the submarine service as a sonar man. When he was in his 80s, he was inducted into the Holland Club, a recognition for 50 years of submarine certification.
He spent a 20 year career in the Navy and an additional 20 years with the Department of Defense. He worked in Japan, Greece, Monaco, Hawaii, Guam, Spain, Scotland, and many other locations, serving his country tirelessly while based out of his long-term home in Ledyard CT. After retirement he remained active in military life and served as the New England president of the Fleet Reserve Association in the early 1990s.
He was married to Pearl (Jonek) and later to Nancy (Goodman). He and Nancy split their time between Ledyard and St. Petersburg. In Florida, some of his best memories were with his friends from the KOA snowbird community. He nursed Nancy through her illness, and after her death continued splitting his time between Connecticut and Florida.
The loss of his youngest daughter, Rosalind Ann, in 2015, hurt and left him deeply sad, but he did not become bitter or angry. He kept focused on the happy memories. He fought one round of cancer, losing his eye in the process, and after that decided that instead of additional hospital and medical time he would live life to its fullest. He eventually spent his days with his daughter in Eastham, MA, living - as he always lived - with an embrace of the world and all in it.
He is survived by his daughter Teresa and grandaughter Allegra, of Eastham MA.
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