Martin William Dow Sr., 90, of 200 Stetson Rd, Auburn, died on August 1, 2018, at the Hospice House in Auburn. Marty was born May 4, 1928, in Augusta, Maine. A self–described “country boy,” Marty enjoyed life on a small farm in Vassalboro, Maine. His favorite pastime was baseball, which would become a life-long love. After his mother mistakenly bought him a baseball glove for the wrong hand, the left-handed kid learned to pitch with his right hand.
The family later moved to Augusta, where Marty attended Cony High School and graduated in 1945. He attended the University of Maine, Orono where he was a member of the varsity baseball team and Phi Mu Delta fraternity. After one year of school, he enlisted in the Army in 1946. He served with the U.S. Paratroopers, 11th Airborne Division and was stationed in Japan. He also played baseball and football on Army regiment teams. After 18 months of service, he returned home and the dashing blue-eyed blonde married the beautiful Phyllis Webber of Augusta on September 11, 1949 and eventually had three children. He resumed his studies and baseball at UMO and in 1950 he pitched a no-hitter in a Virginia game. He went on to have an outstanding senior year, posting five wins and a 1.20 ERA. After graduation from college, he continued to play baseball with various local baseball teams until the age of 42. He was inducted into the Auburn-Lewiston Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. Once his three children were grown, golf became the sport that Marty loved and would do well in. He was a member of Martindale Country Club, winning several tournaments and even hitting a hole-in-one there at age 80!
Marty graduated from UMO in 1951 with a B.A. degree in Business Administration. He worked in the field of finance, serving positions with Maine finance companies as loan officer, branch manager and regional manager. He eventually joined the ranks of banking, starting with Auburn Savings Bank as a loan officer, which eventually became Mid Maine Mutual Savings, where he rose to the rank of Sr. Vice-President, before retiring in 1992. Never requiring a calculator, his sharp head for figures coupled with his enchanting, down-home personality, made for a rare combination in the banking industry, enabling him to be both well-loved and respected in the field, the community and to all who ever knew him.
He was a Mason and a contributing member on numerous, non-profit boards over the years, including serving as president of the Auburn-Lewiston YMCA for two years and years of service in the Auburn Exchange Club. He also participated in countless charity golf tournaments, other fundraisers and quietly helped many individuals privately.
In “retirement” he enjoyed his volunteer job of 12 years, doing bookkeeping and deliveries for Uncle Andy’s Digest.
Despite developing Alzheimer’s Disease in recent years, he still (remarkably) maintained a keen mind for numbers, which enabled him to continue enjoying his daily cribbage games, until the very end.
Words cannot express just how special Marty really was. He was a great friend and the most loving and generous father and grandfather that anyone could ever hope to have.
Beyond his smiling blue eyes and kind manner, Marty’s signature personality trait was his adorable laugh. With a playful quality that exuded sheer joy, Marty infected all those who were exposed to his contagious giggle and hearty roar! The family would like to express special thanks to Schooner Estates for the compassionate and attentive care they provided to Marty and his family over the years.
Marty’s endearing personality will be missed by the many friends he leaves behind, but most of all by his beloved family, whom he treated so well…his beloved wife Phyllis Dow, his children Martin “Rowdy” Dow Jr. and wife Cathy, Gary Dow and wife Jane, Janice Packard and husband Chris; grandsons Adam Dow and wife Hillary, Travis Dow and wife Kathy, Jake Joyner, Jacob Margulies and Lucas Margulies; granddaughters Beth Dow, Heidi Joyner and Christina Conant; great-grandchildren Blake, Zander, Eva, and Tyler Dow and Morgan and Lilly Jeffords and nephew Jack Shipley and niece Sandra Mims & husband Bob. Marty was predeceased by his parents Esther and Herbert Dow, older sister Barbara Shipley and brother-in-law, John Shipley.
A Memorial Service will take place Thursday Aug. 16th at 1 PM in the Tenants Harbor Room at Schooner Estates in Auburn.
To leave a condolence message for the family in the online guestbook, please visit: www.thefortingroupauburn.com
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Alzheimer's Association of Maine 383 US Rt. 1, #2 C, Scarborough, Maine 04074.
A service of The Fortin Group Funeral Home, Cremation and Monument Service, Auburn & Lewiston 783-8545.
