Marty grew up in the Kensington Section of Brooklyn on Ave. F and attended Erasmus High School, graduating in 1952. After high school he attended Farmingdale Agricultural College, a branch of the State University of New York (now SUNY Farmingdale), with the hopes of becoming a veterinarian. However, he soon realized that 8 long years of school plus learning how to pronounce medical terms was not his forte. Instead, he began his career in the Graphic Arts as a Production Assistant, apprentice artist, to the Production Manager of Columbia Pictures. He worked at Columbia for 4 years until he was drafted into the Army in 1955. He served in the Army’s 85th AAA Missile Headquarters Battery in Detroit. After his honorable discharge from the Army, Marty returned to Columbia Pictures where he studied under the tutelage of Manuel (Manny) Rey Isip and they became long-time friends.
After serving as General Manager of the design studios, King Foreign Language and The Slide House, Marty purchased both in 1991 and set up shop at 17th Street & Park Ave. South in Manhattan. Marty retired in 2001.
Marty had three passions in life: sailing, horses, and friends. He joined City Island Yacht Club in 1979 and quickly became involved in all aspects of CIYC club life. He joined the Board of Directors and worked his way through the ranks to become Commodore in 1990-1991. Racing, socializing, and enjoying friends and sailing activities at CIYC was an important part of Marty’s life from 1979-2004.
Marty rekindled his childhood love and relationship with horses when he and Sara purchased their first Quarter Horse, “Hershey,” in 1997. After moving to Florida in 2004, Marty found his passion in showing horses in the western discipline of Reined Cow Horse. Although Parkinson’s Disease had already crept into his life, Marty nonetheless enjoyed showing his cow horse, Close My Tab, aka, “Bar Fly,” in Sarasota, FL.
Friends brought Marty the biggest joy of all. They were captive audiences to his stories and “jokes.” Always the boy from Brooklyn, Marty proudly collected friends from all aspects of life. Marty will be missed by many, but none more than his loving wife and best friend, Sara Weinberg.
Marty is survived by Sara, his wife of 32 years (or as Marty would say: “37 years together; 32 legal”), his daughters Cindy Gates of Casa Grande, AZ, and Susan (Charles) Giambalvo, and granddaughter Avah Giambalvo of Long Island, NY, and sister Ellen (Gary) Lesser of Rockaway, NJ.
Thanks to Marty’s Hospice team at Tidewell for their amazing care as well as his devoted aide, Janet Woodham.
In lieu of a funeral, a celebration of life and a “hell of a party” will be held at a future date.
Contributions may be made in Marty’s memory to a charity of your choice or to: Neuro Challenge Foundation for Parkinson’s, 722 Apex Rd, Unit A, Sarasota, FL 34240
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