Martha Van Oot

Martha “Marty” Van Oot, a distinguished attorney and fierce advocate for justice who was deeply committed to her family and friends, died Sunday, Aug. 17 at her home in Orleans, Massachusetts. She was 73.

Marty was born on November 13, 1951, in Midland, Michigan, to Elizabeth Dawson Oot and Albert P. Oot Jr. She grew up in Westminster, Vermont, where she was the oldest of five children. A world-class oldest sibling and adventurous leader even as a young child, Marty led her family in a fierce competition to become the most agile skier, fastest swimmer, and most prodigious reader.

Marty was humble about her professional accomplishments, of which there were many. She graduated magna cum laude from Middlebury College 1975, before earning her law degree from Northeastern University School of Law in 1978.

Marty started her career as an associate at Boston’s Goodwin Procter & Hoar before going on to serve in several leadership roles in the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office. She returned to private practice with Manchester’s Devine Millimet in 1985 and built a distinguished career with several Granite State firms as an admired partner, top litigator, and valued mediator. Her passion for the law included teaching, at both Vermont Law School and the University of New Hampshire School of Law.

In 2012, she joined Jackson Lewis in Portsmouth as a partner with a particular emphasis on complex commercial and employment litigation, where she practiced until her retirement in 2021. She received numerous honors throughout her four-decade career as a litigator, including the NH Campaign for Legal Services’ John R. Tobin Jr. Justice Award commending Marty for her decades-long work advocating for access to justice, and the New Hampshire Women’s Bar Association’s Marilla M. Ricker Award, which recognizes female lawyers who achieve professional excellence while paving the way for other women in the field.

Beyond the courtroom, Marty’s life was rich with service, exploration, and love — priorities that reflected her desire to leave the world a better place than she found it. She was a dedicated supporter of Democratic and progressive candidates and served on numerous charitable and civic boards, including the Granite, Merrimack, and Greater Manchester United Ways; New Horizons, Inc; the New Hampshire Endowment for Health; and the Friends of Norris Cancer Center.

After retiring, Marty fell in love with the beauty and warmth of the Cape, relocating to Orleans in 2020. It wasn’t long before she was recognized around town as the “lady with the dog” for her long walks with her faithful golden Targhee and recent rescue Mabel.

In classic Marty fashion, retirement didn’t slow her down. Instead, she threw herself into her new community, raising money for cancer research as a rider in the PanMass Challenge and volunteering at the Family Pantry of Cape Cod and the Orleans Council on Senior Aging. A recent addition to the Coast Guard Auxiliary, she spent many hours practicing her knot tying skills and expanding her maritime knowledge.

One of her biggest joys of living on the Cape was sharing its magic with her friends and family. Her home was always open to both two- and four-legged guests. Whether it was spending leisurely afternoons at the beach, sitting around the dinner table until late in the evening, or sneaking candy to young visitors when their parents weren’t looking, it was the simple act of being together that mattered to her most.

Marty was piercingly intelligent, passionate about her hobbies and endlessly curious. She loved travelling the world with family and friends, skiing every mountain she could, and reveling in the beauty of her beloved New England. Her calm wisdom, dry wit, and ceaseless energy left an indelible mark on colleagues, cherished friends, and even those who knew her only in passing.

But for those who were lucky enough to know her well, Marty’s most important legacy will be as a devoted friend and fierce ally who always made room at the table for the people in her life. That was especially true for her family, whom she loved beyond reason. Her generosity knew no bounds.

Marty is survived by her son Benjamin Van Oot, his wife Sarah Daly Van Oot, and their children Olivia Van Oot, and Jack, Avery, and Noah Diorio; her siblings Christopher Oot (Sara), Peter D. Van Oot, Laura Oot Sheridan (John), and Betsy Van Oot, and an army of nieces and nephews (and, more recently, grand nieces and nephews) whom she spoiled as much as possible.

In lieu of flowers, Marty’s family asks friends to consider donations in her honor to the NH Campaign for Legal Services, the Family Pantry of Cape Cod or the Pan-Mass Challenge. But, in their minds, the best way to honor her legacy is to live your life as she did: by trying to leave the world a better place than you found it.

A Celebration of Life and Reception will take place on Friday, September 19 from 12-3 pm at Alyson's Orchard, 57 Alyson's Lane, Walpole, NH 603-756-9800. The family welcomes all who would like to attend.