Gerard M Martin

On April 4, 2020

Beloved husband of Mary (nee Hennessy)

Loving father to Gerard, Mary Mills (Harry), Joseph (Christine Cunning),

Catherine Schianno (Lenny), Robert, Eddie (Cara McMaster), and the late Jimmy.

Loving grandfather of 12 and great grandfather of 1. Dear brother to Helen Greer and Joe Martin.

brother inlaw to Catherine McGuire and Kathy Hennessy. Loving uncle to 20 nieces and nephews. And our extended family Marie Martinez, Richie Fischetti, Susan Scott, Artie Halbern, The Donovan's, Finley's, Brook's, Sullivan's, Shalhoub's, Bowen's, Healy's, Ferrante's, Hannah's, Shandley's and the Gilvey's. Gerard was born on November 23, 1928 in Brooklyn, NY in the parish of St. Mary Star of the Sea. He also lived for many years in the Immaculate Heart of Mary parish. He was associated with the Gremlins Football program for years. He was a veteran of WWII and also of the Korean War. Gerard was a retired DSNY local 831. He was the owner of Terrace Café. His funeral services will be on April 13, 2020 at 1pm at Green-Wood Cemetery. He was blessed to have his wife join him just a few days later.

Both Mary and Gerard (Mom & Dad) had mirrored bios. They came into the depression era downtown Brooklyn via Methodist hospital and entered their spiritual paths at St Mary State of the Sea. Over 80 years ago they landed in Windsor Terrace and have been members of Immaculate Heart of Mary parish where they attended school and received their sacraments of communion, confirmation, marriage, and a great deal of parish pride, Mom was a devout church goer. Their story begins on a blind date on moms Seeley Street porch where her dad immediately commented “oh not this guy”. Dad's reputation was known to Mr. Hennessy by way of his nickname of “Botch” garnered from his rough and tumble football antics on the gridiron. The athletic club “The Gremlins” were renowned for their grit and shenanigans. Dad instantly was smitten with mom. As the backdrop for the creation of an all-American patriotic pair, Windsor Terrace of the 1940s served to foster the spirit of the gritty Brooklyn Dogger and patriotism of the Brooklyn Navy yard efforts and the dutiful joining of the military. At this point dad joined the U.S. Navy, served in W W I I, and was to serve in the army in the Korean War It was at this time Dad courted mom with romantic love letters from overseas. Home on leave the two dated with trips to the racetrack weekends with friends at the Terrace Cafe. They married while home on leave during lent. He went on to the Brooklyn waterfront and working the grain. He supported his family as a NYC sanitation worker, a member of Teamsters L.U. 831 and later retired. He was to go on as proprietor of the venerable Terrace Cafe where I am told the NYS lottery got its start. On many a Sunday the whole neighborhood came for one of his famous free home cooked meals and close knit socializing and casual drinking. He was a generous man where many of his philanthropic endeavors went uncovered. And Now for Mary, much can be said about her. Stunningly beautiful. Hence the moniker “Mary Doll”. She was steadfast in her stoicism, always unassuming, and both passive and demanding simultaneously, loving ,giving , (always more to others than herself). As a mother to 7 she had the gift to discipline by way of “the look”. As sweet as she was she was not beyond not sparing the rod utilizing her slipper. Mary was gracious in all her dealings with all. She was a stern, forgiving, nurturing, loving person to all that crossed her path. Words could do her no justice. When you knew mom, you knew clearly this was a really humble Christian woman. Neighbors, family and friends came to rely on the ever present Mary and Gerry sitting on their East 7th St porch where whispers of “there goes the mayor and first lady of the block” where they would receive a gracious greeting from the pair. Mary and Gerard will forever be remembered and cherished in the hearts of many.