Brett Martin

Brett Robert Martin, age 45, sadly left us on February 21 after a hard-fought battle with medical setbacks. He is survived by his son, Travis Martin; adopted daughter, Audrey; goddaughter, Brielle; parents, Robert and Charlene Martin and his sister, Christelle Martin; brother-in-law, Bruno Darzi and their children Thiago, Brielle and Sienna. Many aunts, uncles, cousins and close friends will pay tribute to his life.

Brett was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on July 23, 1978. He worshipped at the First Presbyterian Church and attended Coral Springs Christian School for nine years. He graduated from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School where he played Eagle football. He excelled in the drafting program which earned him the Florida Gold Seal scholarship. Brett achieved his degree in civil engineering from Virginia Military Institute with the Class of 2000.

He launched his career with Centex-Rooney Construction Company with his first assignment being Cape Coral Parkway. Through the years he progressed as a project manager in several major companies including Kraft, Manhattan, Manhattan Road & Bridge, and WPM.

Highlights of his career include work on the local women's penitentiary, several schools in Lee County, the airport, zoo, botanical gardens, and boardwalk in Naples, the streetscape in the city of Fort Myers, and the Naples pier. He built roads and bridges in Kissimmee and completed many local underground infrastructure jobs. Additionally he managed major projects in distant areas ranging from the Miami Convention Center and Sebastian Inlet to power plants in Indiana. His most recent position was Florida Operations Manager for JJB South of Michigan. To say the least, Brett was well-known and respected as a civil engineer and general contractor in Southwest Florida. A close colleague remarked, "Brett could always quickly apply a pragmatic, common-sense solution to whatever complex issue that others found too complicated and bewildering."

His love for "building things" extended to hobbies of home improvement which he preferred to do by himself. His last major home project was a customized pool haven which he designed and supervised to detail. As an avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed boating, fishing, scuba-diving, skeet shooting, snow skiing, whitewater rafting and all sports. Leisure and adventure travel took him all around the country. He fulfilled his favorite pastime of hunting in places like Osceola County, Maine, Montana and North Carolina.

Brett's unique social skills and leadership style centered around an engaging smile, a witty sense of humor and endless, contagious energy.

To honor his brief, but accomplished life, a memorial service will be held at the Coral Ridge Funeral Home at 950 Chiquita Boulevard S, Cape Coral, Florida at 1pm on Saturday, March 16. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to St. Jude's Children's Research or the Shriner's Hospital for Children in Brett's memory.