Robert W. Martin

Robert W. Martin, 53, of Leawood, Kansas passed away peacefully Monday, November 18, 2013, with his loving wife Bridget, by his side. Despite a devastating diagnosis of Huntington’s years ago, Bob continued to pursue his love of sports, being with family and friends, and helping his two daughters pursue their dreams.

Bob was born June 8, 1960 as the youngest of six, to Frank and Leona Martin. The family lived in Westwood, KS where they attended St. Agnes Catholic Church and grade school. Bob began playing handball at the age of 13, and excelled at league play. As a student at Bishop Miege High School, he ran track and was an outstanding basketball player. He was offered a basketball scholarship to a local college, but chose to enroll at Lake Forest College in 1978 where he pursued his love of handball.

As a freshman, Bob became the handball team’s top player and joined partner Fran Harvey, ’81, to win the United States Handball Association National Collegiate championship in doubles. Bob helped the Foresters win the team title his first year, as he did each of the following three years. He was voted Most Valuable Player and earned All-America honors as a sophomore by reaching the national finals in singles. He won the singles titles each of the next two years, and was named Captain and team MVP as a senior. At the time of his induction into the college’s athletic Hall of Fame, he was one of just four men’s handball players in the history of the program to earn All America honors in four different seasons. Bob also became the first president of “Brotherhood,” a men’s social organization on campus.

After graduating from Lake Forest with a degree in economics, Bob worked for 10 years at IBM, where he earned the Eagle Award, the company’s highest sales recognition. He later worked for 11 years at Hitachi Data Systems, where he claimed seven district, three regional and two national Sales Representative of the Year honors.

Bob and Bridget married in 1985, and have two beautiful daughters, Mallori and K.T. Throughout his adult life, Bob had a large circle of close friends, and regularly ran marathons, and played league handball. Even when it became impossible to do on his own, Bob participated in local fun runs, gambled at the local casinos and in Las Vegas, and visited old friends at Lake Forest.

Bob is preceded in death by his father, Frank, his mother, Leona (Schwartz), and a sister Theresa. He leaves behind one brother, Frank Martin (Laurie); three sisters, Kathleen Martin of Overland Park; Mary Ellen Winn of Fairway; and Janice Gillihan (Pat) of Overland Park; 12 nieces and nephews, and two great-nephews. He is survived by his wife, Bridget, and their two daughters, Mallori and K.T.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, November 22nd, 10:00 a.m., at Church of the Nativity Catholic Church, 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood, KS, with burial following in Resurrection Cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday, November 21st, at McGilley State Line Chapel, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m., where the Rosary will be prayed at 4:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made in Bob’s memory to KU Endowment/Huntington’s Disease, c/o Carolyn Gray, Dept. of Neurology, KUMC, 3599 Rainbow, mail stop 2012, Kansas City, KS, 66160.