Cecilia Martyn Obituary

LEEDS - Cecilia Martyn died March 30, 2017, at her home in Leeds, at age 86. Celia was a woman of great intellect and generosity and took to heart W. B. Yeats' advice to cherish "moments of glad grace."

Celia was born March 8, 1931, at home in Greenfield, to Rozalia and Ignace Machaiek, Polish immigrants who left their homeland in the early 20th century.

Celia attended the University of Massachusetts and earned a master's degree from Yale University in 1954, where she met her future husband, Howell C. Martyn. The Martyns raised their three children in West Hartford, Connecticut. Celia had a long career teaching English, first at the University of Hartford and then at Montclair, New Jersey, State University.

Celia was a member of the Hartford Chorale and the New York Choral Society, singing at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. After she moved to Northampton in 2002, she sang with the Hampshire Choral Society.

Celia loved gardening. She delighted in the conversations she had with the parade of friendly walkers passing by as she worked in the flower gardens in front of her pink Federal Street house. She also loved to play bridge, and played a mean game of Scrabble until the very end of her life. Celia was also an avid walker, bicyclist and a dedicated member of the YMCA, where she often exercised with women 50 years her junior.

Celia is predeceased by her former husband Howell Martyn of Ellington, Connecticut. She leaves three children, Amy Martyn of Northampton, Anne Alexander of Pisgah Forest, North Carolina, and Tom Martyn of Newfane, Vermont. Also four daughters-in-law, Amy Waldman, Susan Gabriel, Ellen Martyn and Kelli Warriner. Three adored grandchildren, Kamini Waldman, Emily Martyn, and Pete Martyn, brought joy to her life.

A celebration of Celia's life will be held April, 30, at 3 p.m. at the Garden House at Look Park, Florence.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Northampton Education Foundation, P.O. Box 44, Northampton, MA 01061.

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Published by Daily Hampshire Gazette on Apr. 8, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Cecilia Martyn

4 Entries

Lisa Kasper (Guenther)

April 7, 2023

Prof. Martyn was my professor at Montclair State University in the early 90s. She was so encouraging and so supportive of my writing that I came back after graduation to ask her to write a letter of recommendation for graduate school. Years later, while teaching writing at Montclair State, I found that I had structured my syllabus much as she had a decade prior. She was my professor for both Intro to Writing and Intro to Lit - the core college experience in my major. She left a lasting, positive impression on me and I still remember some of her classes 30 years later. Memorable lady. May she rest in peace.

Jean Ganguly

April 20, 2017

When Celia moved from New Jersey I lost a special friend, a great colleague and a fascinating walking companion. To talk to Celia was to feel her enthusiasm, the joy she found in her work, her music, her garden and her family.

Bess Hepner

April 8, 2017

Two winters ago I shoveled Celia's driveway, and everytime after I shoveled she invited me in to talk and eat snacks and listen to classical music. When it got warmer out, we would go on walks. She always had so many amazing stories to tell me and was absolutely hilarious. We would walk down a neighbor's driveway lined with trees which she called her Versailles walkway. If we saw the homeowner at the end of the driveway she would simply compliment him on his driveway. I regret losing touch with Celia. We had big plans to go to an orchestra concert together and drive to Shelburne Falls. The time I spent with her as a Smith College student surrounded by people my age was refreshing and grounding. I'm sending lots of love to her family and friends and letting you know how loved Celia is!

Joanne

April 8, 2017

...and when I look up to the moon I will always wonder what secrets of yours it holds for it always made you smile...❤