Martin Michael Russell

November 12, 1946 – March 3, 2025

Marty was a beloved father and grandfather, a master of natural foods baking, diehard bicyclist, actor, poet, musician, and an accomplished practitioner of Vedic Astrology.

He was born in Boston, Massachusetts to Josephine Veronica (Lally) and John G. Russell. His mother was first-generation Irish; his father’s parents were of Spanish descent, with ancestral ties to multiple cultures. Marty was the youngest, with five older siblings: Bonita, Paula, Rosalie, Christine, and John Joseph. He was born after the rest of his family was liberated in 1945 from a Japanese internment camp in Manila, Philippines, where his father had worked for Russell & Co, a Filipino mahogany shipping company.

Marty’s early childhood was in the housing projects of Boston’s East End. His brother John bought him his first bicycle at around age 11, and Marty remembered having to teach himself to ride with many painful crashes. He also recalled a feeling of intense freedom—and he was hooked. He completed high school in Marblehead where he delighted in living near the ocean and, influenced by his sister Rosalie’s dance career, took ballet lessons. Raised Catholic, he was enthralled by stories of mystics and saints from a young age, which became a foundation for him as a lifelong and heartfelt spiritual seeker.

In his early twenties, Marty was drawn to the macrobiotic movement and studied under Michio Kushi in Boston and Brookline. There he met Marion Coates, and they married in 1970. Marty worked at the macrobiotic Sanae Restaurant and quickly developed an interest in, and love of, baking. Marion remembers Marty’s creativity, for example, having a brainstorm one day at their apartment in Brookline to avoid using yeast or baking powder by baking kernels of popcorn inside a loaf of bread, thus assisting in the natural rise of a whole wheat loaf. From there his interest quickly moved to developing natural sourdough starters. Delicious, artisanal sourdough bread and rolls, expertly crafted, remained his calling card for the rest of his life.

Marty and Marion raised four children, Vida, Ephraim, Cocco, and Asia, first in the Boston area and later (after a brief stint baking in Tucson, AZ) in Warrenton, VA, as the sole baker at the Warrenton Natural Foods & Bakery. His talent caught the attention of the renowned Inn at Little Washington, who hired him to craft rustic rolls for their menu. His bread, onion rolls, and natural foods donuts were legendary!

Later, while they lived in Burke, VA, Marty was a baker or manager at numerous establishments in the DC area, including Harvest Natural Foods, Hugo’s Market, Bread & Chocolate, and Fresh Fields. His “baker’s hours” were grueling, but they also allowed him to be home with his children in the late afternoons, delighted to play music, sing, dance, and philosophize; encourage them in sports; watch indie films; and garden together in the backyard; as well as regaling them with stories of an imaginary giant named Muncho. When time allowed, he entered bicycle races at Greenbelt Park. He also studied massage therapy, singing, the Indian tabla drum and Japanese shakuhachi flute, as well as Zen Buddhist, Taoist, and Vedic philosophies.

After his divorce, Marty moved to southern California in the early 1990s, still working at bakeries, but also as an actor in TV, theatre, and film. Although it might have ended up on the cutting room floor, he had a bit part in a sequel to Pirates of the Caribbean and can be seen playing guitar in the Kid Rock video “Cold and Empty.” In the sunny Southwest, Marty kept up his bike riding and racing, and developed deep friendships as he delved into his spiritual studies and yogic path of prayer, meditation, and community service.

Marty moved back to the DC area around 2007 when his first grandchildren were born, and he was rechristened with the Grandpa name of “Smokey.” He delighted in romping with the youngsters and had no concern about being overpowered by them. Usually he, and they, ended up rolling riotously on the ground, since he was, for his entire life, as flexible as a six-year-old. He loved exchanging corny puns and jokes with them while exploding in laughter. True to his curious and open nature, he was always eager to learn about their interests and passions, supporting their endeavors in art, music, dance, and sports. A lifelong baker, he baked them loaves of his delicious "Smokey bread," which they adored and devoured! He often cared for his sourdough starters over years and never went a week without baking a new take on his favorite recipes.

Marty was a renaissance person. His interest and depth of knowledge on a massive range of topics, his drive to explore and learn, and his delight in art, literature, music, nature, physics, philosophy, and the occult left an impression on many whom he met. He relished any home-cooked meal, but he never wavered in his stalwart allegiance to a simple diet of organic and natural foods. He continued bike racing into his late 60s and remained a dedicated cyclist.

Marty had a deep devotion to his family and close friends. He was attentive to the care of his mother and siblings through the end of their lives, and he would swiftly travel to assist any loved one in need.

Marty was predeceased by his parents and siblings. He is survived by his children and their spouses (Vida & Rob Myers, Ephraim & Susan Myers, Cocco & Josef Russell Falk, Asia), his four grandchildren (Pearce, August, Isla, and Volta), his wider Russell family members whom he delighted in meeting over the years, as well as his beloved friends— his chosen extended family.

After a severe stroke on December 29, 2024, Marty died peacefully on March 3rd at Marion’s home while being cared for by his family. Interment will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Washington, DC.

In lieu of flowers, you are welcome to donate to any of the following places in his name:

• Save the Frogs https://savethefrogs.com/

• Ocean Conservancy https://oceanconservancy.org/

• WABA: A bicyclist association in Marty’s community that “fights for a just and sustainable region where walking, biking & transit are the best ways to get around”. https://waba.org/

• International Fund for Animal Welfare https://www.ifaw.org/ca-en

• ASPCA https://secure.aspca.org/donate/annual (or your local shelter, wildlife rehab, etc.)