Mary Jane Martino

Mary Jane Martino, 88, of Gahanna, died of cancer Friday, June 26 at Tuscany Gardens in Pataskala. Martino is survived by four children, William (Sandy) Sowers of Rockbridge, Ohio; Eileen Hall of New Albany; Deborah (Russ) Finney of Newark, Del. and Jacob (Alice) Sowers of Cincinnati; two sisters, Reba Newman of Columbus and Eileen Ratliff of Etna, Ohio and one brother, Robert Loper of Ocala, Fla.; 13 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. Martino is preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Martino of Pickerington; seven brothers and two sisters.

A lifelong resident of Central Ohio, Mary Jane was born to Frank and Martha Loper on March 19, 1927. As a working mother she distinguished herself as one of the finest restaurant servers in Columbus. In the late 1950s Top Steakhouse in Bexley featured her in a local television commercial, and while serving for the Ohio State University football team at since-closed Kuenning's she was a favorite of coach Woody Hayes.

A skilled self-taught piano player, Martino enjoyed performing in her later years at senior centers throughout Central Ohio, often in bands that included her sisters.

Friends may call 1 p.m. Saturday, July 11 at Schoedinger Northeast Chapel, 1051 Johnstown Road, Gahanna. A memorial service will follow at 2 p.m. Mourners may express their condolences online at schoedinger.com. In lieu of flowers the family advises that donations may be made to the American Cancer Society and the American Lung Association.