Homer Joseph Martin

August 29, 1935 - February 9, 2020

A Life Well Lived

Homer Joseph “Marty” Martin was born in Lafayette, Louisiana on August 29, 1935 as the only

child to Lester Martin and Beulah Frances Martin. Marty grew up in Progressive Baptist Church

of Berkeley. As a teen he attended Summer vacation bible camps. Marty studied and explored

all 5 of the major religions but wasn’t a member of any particular church.

He was educated in the Berkeley Unified School District, graduating from Berkeley High School

in May 1954 and volunteered for the United States Air Force in October that same year.

While in the Air Force, Marty served as a professional athlete in Europe, participating in any and

all athletics including badminton, track and field, and American football. He was such an

outstanding athlete that he tried out for the Oakland Raiders, and had a call back tryout. He

also served as a military detention officer during his Marin County Hamilton Field tour.

After military service Marty studied accounting at San Francisco City College while working as

a SF taxi driver. Marty retired from the San Francisco Newspaper Agency. He loved working

and was usually promoted to supervisory positions. He held a variety of positions: supervising

accountant and bookkeeper for a geotechnical consulting firm, marketing consultant and radio

broadcasting disc jockey for KAEZ, an Oklahoma City radio station. He owned small

businesses, Property Perfect in Oakland, and MCM Photography with two of his friends. He

held a Class A drivers license which allowed him to drive limousines and commercial vehicles.

He liked working with his hands, building fences, decks, and walkways was like a hobby. Marty

also studied acting and attended auditions for voice over and commercial television ads.

Marty was an avid reader and he loved listening to all music, Jazz was his favorite. He was a

health enthusiast and loved to jog, walk, roller blade, and bicycle. Vacations were often flying,

taking Amtrak, and driving to U.S. Olympic, national, college and high school track and field

championships; camping and hiking in State and National Parks, and traveling to family

gatherings. He enjoyed deep sea fishing and playing bid whist. He developed a “birthday walk”

where he’d walk his age in miles during his birth month. He liked shopping and home

decorating, cooking, baking, and eating delicious food.

Marty will be remembered for his generous Spirit, his warm heart, his broad smile, contagious

laughter, and his quick comeback wit.

Marty is survived by his wife Zondra, of 27 years. Three children, Juliet, Kent, and Mark; 10

grandchildren (grandson Mark, Jr. preceded him in death 2005) and 3 great grandchildren.

Donations may be made in the memory of Marty to PD Active PO Box 9246 Berkeley, CA

94709.