Marty was born in Kalispell, Montana in the summer of 1937. He was the first son, and 2nd of 8 children born to Martin and Dixie James. The family later moved to Seattle, Washington at the start of WWII.
In Seattle, Marty would attend Holy Rosary, O’Dea High, and Seattle University. His Catholic upbringing and education deeply influenced his life and would lead him to Alaska with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.
In 1972 he met his future wife Patti at St. Mary’s, Alaska where they were both teaching. He continued his teaching career in Nome, Alaska where Patti later joined him. They were married in Tucson, Arizona in May of 1977. They went on to have three beautiful boys… Ernest, Robert, and Andrew.
Circumstances led Marty to purchase a small gift shop in Nome which continues to operate to this day. The shop, Maruskiya’s of Nome, would be Marty’s legacy which he nurtured to his final days.
He returned to his childhood home in Seattle in 2010. He spent his final years authoring a book, playing chess, and visiting with family and friends. He died peacefully at the age of 88 with his family at his bedside.
