He was born on June 28, 1931, and grew up in Albany, NY. He graduated from Christian Brothers Academy, after which he met and married Mary Ellen Benson 1954. He worked for CBS in NYC before joining IBM. In 1965, he moved the growing family to Raleigh and helped open the IBM site in Research Triangle Park. He retired from IBM on the Supermarket Scanner project after having taking demonstrations of the scanner as far away as Japan.
Art as he was known, was a lifelong Catholic deeply committed to his faith and a founding parishioner of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. He enjoyed golfing at Wil-Mar golf course for 55 years until the last of his senior golfing buddies passed away. He was active in helping young speakers for many years through the Optimist club.
Art traveled several times to County Cork, Ireland to visit descendants of his great grandmother, the Lane Family, highlighted on his 80th birthday when many of Art’s family came over to celebrate in Ireland. The Lane descendants hosted a great party for the two families. He was grateful to Peter Morrison of Ireland to meet him and show him the sites and the land his family once farmed.
After the death of Mary Ellen in 2002, he married second wife, Nella Kasch and together they enjoyed bringing two families together and cruising the world on many vacations.
Art was predeceased by his parents, John F. Kilmartin and Mary Corscadden Kilmartin, first wife Mary Ellen, daughter Patricia, and daughter-in-law Nancy.
He is survived by Nella (Nell), his children, Kevin Kilmartin of Virginia Beach, Michael Kilmartin, Sr. of Cary (Judy), Kathy Kilmartin Olevsky (Rob) of Wake Forest, Terry Kilmartin Roper (Steve) of Raleigh, John Kilmartin (Wrenn) of Sparta, Robert Kilmartin (Becky) of Atlanta; Nell’s children, Becky Sterling, Jen Catherman, and Pam Smith; grandchildren, Elana Clements (James), Laura Griffin (Brian), Emily Kilmartin, Brie Kilmartin, Kelly Busbice (Ty), Wendy Minson (Billy), Michael Kilmartin, Jr. (Jen), Josh Olevsky (Frances), Casey D’Augustine (Andrew), Chris Roper, Brittany Bass, Brian Bass (Michelle), Jack Kilmartin (Savannah), Katy Kilmartin, Anna Kilmartin; great-grandchildren, Max Clements, Cortland Griffin, Deacon Griffin, McCoy Griffin, Emmett Powell, Conner Powell, Megan Busbice, Molly Busbice, Kara Busbice, Lydia Minson, Evelyn Minson, Joseph Kilmartin, Adelyn Kilmartin, Mary Ellen Olevsky, Mila Lewis, Brock Tomayko, Selena Bass.
The family wishes to express their appreciation to Always Best Care and Transitions Life for their kindness in caring for Art in his final weeks.
Services honoring the life of Art will begin with a visitation on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at 12:00pm at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 11401 Leesville Rd, Raleigh, NC, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial beginning at 1:00pm. Burial will follow in Raleigh Memorial Park.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to one of his favorite charities, St. Francis of Assisi Church, American Cancer Society, Meals-on-Wheels, Sr. Mary Teresita and the Sisters of Notre Dame Endowment at Cardinal Gibbons High School (select Endowment, Sr. Mary Teresita and the Sisters of Notre Dame). Please use the links below, under 'Donations'.
If you would like to leave a favorite memory / story of Art, or a message of condolence for his family, you may do so below, within 'Add a Memory'.
