Rosario Martin

Rosario “Sara” Martin passed away peacefully in her sleep on February 7, 2024 in Hampton, Virginia. She leaves behind a legacy of love through her family and friends. At 100 years old, she reached the oldest of any family member, and was the last of her generation on both sides of the family tree.

Sara was born on December 16, 1923, in Ponce, Puerto Rico. She was the youngest of six siblings and was part of a large extended family growing up. Tragically, her parents died within months of each other when she was only eight, so her grandmother, “Mama,” stepped in to raise her daughter’s children. Sara was in the last wave of family that came to the mainland in 1938, along with Mama, uncle Gregorio, and several siblings. They settled in “El Barrio” in New York City. She had a voracious appetite for knowledge and did very well in school, mastering English as a second language. She met Albert “Rebel” Martin in 1956, a widower with two young children, James (Jimmy) and Katherine (Kitty). Accepting his marriage proposal on their first date on St Patrick’s Day, they were married after a whirlwind three-month engagement. They had two children, Lee (aka Joe), and Dora (aka Winnie), and they successfully raised the family of four kids on a shoestring income. Al and Sara were married for 43 years until his passing in 1999.

Sara worked as a teacher’s aide in the NYC Public School system for many years, including P.S. 57. She became an elementary school teacher after earning her bachelor’s degree from Hunter College in 1980 at the age of 56! She went on to earn her master’s degree and taught in the bi-lingual program at P.S. 7 in East Harlem until her retirement in the early ‘90s.

Sara loved the performing arts, especially the NYC theater scene. She attended shows regularly, and often brought the kids along for their dose of culture. The annual Nutcracker ballet was always a favorite. In her later years, she attended Broadway matinees on a weekly basis, passing up the long lines thanks to some very kind staff members at the TKTS kiosk! She also told many stories of seeing performances by Frank Sinatra and other notables in her younger days. Sara loved food…rich, luxurious food…and champagne! Seafood was her favorite, but some of the best memories were meals at Peter Luger’s Steakhouse in Brooklyn. She also enjoyed entertaining guests, particularly during the holidays; and family meals were always a priority. Sara’s joy and zest for life were always on display, and her huge smile captured many hearts!

Sara was predeceased by husband Albert and stepson Jim. She is survived by children Joe and Dora; stepdaughter Katherine with son Jonathan; daughter-in-law Meredith with sons Chad and Rod; grandchildren Jason, Aly, and Sara; and great granddaughter, Isabella.

A gathering of family and friends will be held on February 16, 10:00 AM, at Frank E. Campbell - The Funeral Chapel in Manhattan, NY. A burial will be held with family immediately following at Calverton National Cemetery, Long Island, where Sara will be reunited with her beloved Albert.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to the East Harlem Tutorial Program at: https://www.ehtp.org/. Click on the green “Donate” button and use the email [email protected] during the process to notify the family that a memorial contribution has been made.