Tom Martin, the son of a Manhattan Beach city manager who went on to a lifetime behind the scenes of South Bay politics, passed away March 30th at his home in Manhattan Beach. Martin was born April 21, 1945. He moved to Manhattan Beach when he was 11, when his father, Gayle Martin, became city manager.
In 1969, he signed on with State Senator, Bob Beverly, who was then a freshman Republican assemblyman from Manhattan Beach. Martin stayed with Beverly until he retired from the California Senate in 1996. He then went to work for Don Knabe, retiring in 2005 when he fell ill with cancer. "He was the classic example of good government in action," said El Segundo Mayor Kelly McDowell.
Martin is survived by his wife, Jeri; two stepsons, Brian and Jimmy; and two stepdaughters, Teri and Leisha..
Memorial services will be 9:30 AM Saturday, April 21, 2007, at the American Martyrs Catholic Church in Manhattan Beach. The family asks that donations be made in Martin's honor to the 1736 Family Crisis Center or the Los Angeles County Junior Lifeguard Program.
