Janet Biagi Marticke

The daughter of Vivienne (nee Randall), a pediatric RN, and Louis R. Biagi, an ophthalmologist, Janet was born on June 15, 1948 and raised in Schenectady New York. Her father passed away when she was just 16, and Janet drew much of her inspiration and lifelong resilience from her mother, Vivienne, who lived to be 101. Janet and Vivienne remained inseparable on Cape Cod and in Florida until Vivienne’s passing three years ago.

Janet first met Rodger Marticke when they were 12 years old, entering the seventh grade. That first encounter evolved into a relationship that lasted for 65 years. Their marriage spanned nearly five decades and produced three children: Drew, Keir, and Trevor.

Janet’s love for children defined much of her life. After attending New York University and San Francisco State, she studied early childhood education with Renilda Montessori at the University of Toronto Montessori Institute. She channeled her passion for education into founding the Morningside Montessori program at her home in Medfield, Massachusetts. As a teacher, she was known for her patience, gentleness, and caring approach for all her students, which included her own children.

Her home was a place of warmth, usually filled with the sound of music—ranging from classical pieces to her favorite artists—Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, and Alison Krauss. A talented chef, Janet often filled the house with the scent of her homemade, slow-cooked pasta recipes or her made-from-scratch apple pie. She was also an avid reader, rarely seen without a book in-hand even in her final days.

Janet was a courageous woman who faced significant adversities with quiet strength. She was a survivor of both breast and pancreatic cancer and multiple afflictions arising from a compromised immune system. She also navigated the loss of her only daughter Keir in 2004. Despite these challenges, she remained empathetic and generous to everyone she encountered, from her closest friends to a stranger in a store.

Cape Cod was a unifying, constant thread throughout Janet’s life. She loved her summers at Cold Storage Beach in East Dennis, and many of the Martickes’ most cherished memories were the years spent in “Grandma’s cottage,” where her siblings Elaine and Bruce would also bring their families. While those busy summers eventually shifted as the children grew older, the times at the cottage anchored the family’s love for the area.

Janet is survived by her husband Rodger; her sons Drew and Trevor; her sister Elaine; and her brother Keith. She was predeceased by her daughter Keir and brother Bruce. Other survivors include four grandchildren: Walker, Lizzie, Ellie, and Myles; and several nephews and nieces: Michael Biagi, Jennifer Biagi Noble, Brian Turner, Darcy Turner, Briana Biagi, and Sarah Biagi Fortin.

Janet will be cremated and buried alongside her daughter Keir in Brewster, Massachusetts. An open celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to the Association for the Preservation of Cape Cod or the American Cancer Society.