WAYNE MARTIN Obituary
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David Gonzalez
August 19, 2020
Mr. Martin was a great educator. He was a gifted orator and a superior debate coach in government. I am honored to have been a student in his class. Reasoning, with profound basis was the backbone of his ability to argue any given platform. His legacy, to create a more educated mind is quite evident in the fact that many of his methods to debate have based yours truly. I thank you Mr. Wayne C. Martin, as you remain zenith in your endeavor, to educate the mind. Farewell, not goodbye . . .
Krystal Campbell
August 19, 2018
40 years later I remembered your birthday and
I googled you only to learn you passes in 2009 same year as my mother. You were my history teacher and my hero. I remember your koi pond and your recorder (a kind of flute) you were the coolest person I have ever known. Rest in peace sweet friend.
Rose Khan
August 6, 2016
Im reading this obituary several years after his death and yet it made me sob. Mr. Martin was my history teacher at Houston Technical Institute (formerly San Jacinto HS) from 1976-1979. But he was so much more. He was the greatest teacher I had the honor of meeting, in elementsry school, high school or college. He taught us about history, politics. Art, travel and architecture, but most of all, how to think. Voted most favorite teacher every year, he embodied what a perfect teacher should be. Caring, smart, involved, thought provoking. Words could never fully describe him.
He made us question the status quo. He made us strive to achieve! He made us think! He opened up the world of travel and art with his personal travel films. He was fascinating and funny. He dared us to explore life and the world. He is the reason I took the road less traveled and for that I am grateful. And today when I am at another crossroad, his words speak out to me from beyond the grave reminding me to live my life!!! Thank you Mr. Martin. I loved you then and still love you now. You are my inspiration. Fly through the universe. Soar as always.
Bottom row, third window from left.
Nick Davenport
May 2, 2013
Friends and students of Mr. Martin,
This past Christmas, I had the opportunity to visit Wayne's final resting place at the Abbey Mausoleum at Forest Park Lawndale cemetery, and found it just as he predicted in his obituary.
For those of you who may not have the opportunity to visit and, in his words, “drop by and say hello,” I've attached a picture and a copy of the inscription he wrote. I think it's a wonderful distillation of the man we admired and loved, and trust he wouldn't have minded my sharing it.
“Wayne C. Martin; 19 August 1931 – 27 October 2009.
“Here are the elemental cremains of Wayne Calvin Martin, born August 19, 1931, the first surviving son of Leo Eli Martin and Mable Bridges Herbert, on a 40-acre, hard-scrabble farm in the piney-woods hills of north-west Rapides Parish, Louisiana. I rode the school bus to Boyce High School, discovered books in the 3rd grade and never stopped reading. My family left the farm in 1941 for Ft. Worth, TX, and then Doyline, LA, then back to the farm in 1943. My father "drifted away," my mother now raised the family. I have two sisters and a brother and we love each other. I had a great English teacher in high school, Janet Smith Thompson, who expanded my life. I graduated from high school in 1950 and went to S.L.I. in Lafayette, LA. I graduated from there in 1954 with a degree in music education. I taught one year in Sulphur, LA, married Annie Jean Breaux, and we moved to Houston in 1955. We were divorced in 1958. I taught in Japan for the D.O.D., 1959-61, the defining experience in my life, and returned to Houston. I taught junior high band and orchestra, but got certified to teach history in 1968 and transferred to San Jacinto High School. I taught for 39 years, mostly in HISD, retired in 1993 and spent 1994 New Year's in Istanbul looking for James Baldwin's house. I climbed Mt. Fuji, spent the night at Machu Picchu, explored Mayan ruins in Yucatan, loved Mexico City, London, Paris, Vienna, Madrid, saw the Great Wall, the Taj Mahal, Hong Kong, and rode the Chunnel train twice. I painted portraits and made lots of photographs. I kept a Journal. I ate well, delighted in my sensuality, lived comfortably, explored my genealogy, had many friends, and trusted my rationality. I was a Skeptic since I was a teenager, my “Eternity” rests in this wooden box you see. I was made out of the same stuff as the stars. I was two meters tall and loved every inch of it. Watch for the full moons, we are all of this Earth, love it and save it. Love thy neighbor every chance you get. Yes, dust to dust, and that's a wonderful thing! Expect no more. To thine own self be true, as much as your society will let you. Lie if it makes others happy, but remember, there are always consequences for lying. Grow up, take full responsibility for your life, you are the product of all the decisions you have ever made. Tempus fugit, carpe diem! Abandon your myths and superstitions, embrace ethics, absolutes are for children. You have a mind, put your trust and faith there. Get rid of your selfishness and live free. Do the same to die free.”
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Pete Manry
April 24, 2013
I was a student of his at T H Rogers from '65 -'68 - he insisted that I play the French horn - his hugs were absolutely the best - was a kind and good man - what a Blessing in my life - thank you, kind sir!
Omar Calvin
October 6, 2010
Wayne Martin, you were my mentor and much more. I will forever cherish our good times that we had along with the bad times.. Miss you much Omar S. Calvin
Brian Walters
August 24, 2010
Mr. Martin- everyone else has said it all, and anything else I added would be redundant; so I'll just instead say, from the son of two teachers- you were a shining example of what being a perfect teacher was all about.
You made history and the arts come alive for me, and I will always remember that.
Sleep well, my friend...
jamilah alexander
July 20, 2010
mr. martin i miss you as my grandpa and teacher you are my idol and you made a pianolist out me thank you and i love you dearly
PEEWEE JAY AND RAY RAY
Nick Davenport
June 17, 2010
Wayne is gone? I just heard the sad news from another of his students, and a lifelong friend and classmate of mine from 1957 - 1960. That’s when Mr. Martin was OUR teacher. Imagine that – 53 years ago! Wayne was our band director and science teacher at GW Jr. Hi in Houston. He opened the world of musical performance to me as a budding bass clarinet player and snare drummer. The sheer joy of making barely tolerable music together with a bunch of similarly enthusiastic and untalented bandsboys and girls under Mr. Martin’s baton is one of the highlights of my life. He was Meredith Willson’s REAL Music Man. Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony, Harlem Nocturne, Sousa’s Thunderer March – his eclectic selections still echo in my mind. I can almost remember the fingerings…
And science! When I reconnected with Wayne years later, he downplayed his knowledge and enthusiasm for science back then, preferring history, but what a gift he had. He taught not facts but what was truly significant about science, which is to have an open, curious, and inquisitive mind, and to look upon the world with a fresh eye. And to disregard conventional wisdom. His thoughts were open to us all – the only teacher I ever had who connected with us on OUR level. I once recall him talking about his days as a hospital orderly, and how dead bodies weren’t frightening, only missing something – whatever that spark of life was. And he talked about life – love, sex, relationships – at least as much as he could get away with back then.
And then when I found him through an internet search 50 years later, what a joy it was to find out that he was still young, questioning, enthusiastic, and enjoying life as I had always remembered. Of anyone, he’d be the one to write his own obituary, with humor and an acceptance of what life should be. Another lesson …
As I read through the testimonials from his many other students, I am struck with the eloquence of their words, and the obvious love for the man that we all felt. We’ve all shared a very special life experience knowing Wayne. He expanded our horizons, he taught us to think for ourselves, he taught us that we all had value, regardless of our talents, origins, crazy personalities, idiosyncrasies … He, more than any other one teacher, opened the world to us. What a magnificent legacy! Mr. Martin, you live on as long as any of the rest of us have memories. Well done, my friend.
Mark Jackson
March 14, 2010
Mr. Martin was a complex man. I was a student of his at Jones High school and then reconnected with him a few years after I graduated. He was a private man who had an unusual personal life which he allowed me to see, but he was basically a good guy. I remember once asking him when he was about 67 years old if he ever thought about his death. He says yes because a close childhood friend of his had recently died and it made him think. He mentioned that he would never end up in a nursing home being cared for. That was Mr. Martin independent, stubborn, and a lover of life. Bye Mr. Martin
Louis Harris
March 12, 2010
Wayne, I thank God for your life...You taught me so much, I will miss our long talks about life, peoples and travels around the world.
" It's been a great run" I will always love you!!
Sid Barras
February 19, 2010
Dearest Wayne, I miss you terribly. I was one of his "surrogate sons." He introduced my Mother, Gwen Driskill (his fellow music major students at SLI back in the fifties) to my dad, (his roomate at the dormitory).Wayne always liked to claim responsibility for my existence. His occasional trips to Lake Charles were a highlight of mine and my family. Though you never believed in a God, I hope that he believes in you-- and I trust he does, because you truly were a caretaker of human beings, and I am greatly enhanced by your influence.
Thomas Fenske
December 9, 2009
It is really odd that here, six weeks later, for some reason I was compelled to do a google search on "Wayne Martin" and find that he passed away so recently. Unlike the many other people here, I was not a high school student of his. He had a varied life, teaching for a while in Japan, then a stint of a few years teaching Jr. High band and orchestra, then moving on to teach High School for so many years. I was in that Jr. High phase so I stand here as a lone voice from that era in the 1960s. I've never forgotten him ...he'd bang his baton so hard on the beat that the music stand was flattened on the edge. I think the fledgling musicians were frustrating to him and his love of great music. Still, he has stood out in my memory. I remember so little of Jr. High School, but remember him so very well. So long, Mr. Martin.
Melissa Dietrich
December 3, 2009
Mr. Martin, words don't fail me, they are overflowing! You are like the spark that began a forest fire. A gentle, fleeting touch. What you taught with passion, I was moved to see with my own eyes: The Wonders of the World, sir. Oh, and wonders they are! Thank you! World History is not a mere subject. It's a philosophy. When it is my time, may I, like you, make world history too.
Respect--
Kimberly Carter C/O '86
November 8, 2009
I can't even think of high school without thinking of Wayne Martin. He may not have civilized this Barbarian, but he definitely got me excited about the world. Art, history, world music--they were all a great part of the Wayne Martin experience, but it was the jokes, antics, playful insults, and practical insights into life, that made him one of the great philosopher-teachers of my life!
Ramon Cantu
November 7, 2009
Mr. Martin was one of the best and most life-changing teachers to cross my and hundreds of others' paths.
It doesn't surprise me one bit that wrote his own obit, or that it'd be both so thought-provoking and practical - much as he was himself.
Oh wah...Ta Goo...Siam, indeed, Seymon,
Ramon Cantu C/O '86
Semyon Dukach
November 7, 2009
Oh wah. Ta Goo. Siam. I'm still repeating it. Thank you Mr. Martin for that invaluable lesson.
Semyon Dukach C/O '86
November 6, 2009
I am trying to write something but I am really lost with words right now. My friendship with him only lasted 30 years and they are all beautiful memories. I still can't believe he is gone.
Salvador Gómez, Mexico City
Bethany Artru Randolph
November 5, 2009
Thank you for helping so many of us get out from under our rocks. You were a great teacher and a wonderful man. I am a better person because of you.
Michelle Kwan
November 5, 2009
My deepest and fondest memory of high school was being in your class to learn about the world beyond us, not just from the textbook, but by your inspiration to appreciate history, music, and culture. It's not that hard to think about your teachings every time I listen to a classical concert, hear Bizet's Carmen, or see a flying buttress. You are a great teacher and you are greatly missed.
Andre Stewart
November 5, 2009
Mr. Martin, or "Wayne" as he insisted I call him after graduation (I never got used to doing that, and never did it), found a way to inject himself into my life periodically, although he hadn't taught me regularly since 1981-2. And each time, I was the greater and better for it.
Although he retired from HISD, he never lost the joy of teaching. He always saw the potential in his students and encouraged them to surpass it, even though they were over 40 years of age.
On Sept. 17,, I saw him on TV and remembered there was something I had been meaning to ask him, for several weeks. it was regarding an historical document he had discovered belonging to a prominant historical person of Louisiana. I sent him an e-mail the next day. When he failed to return it, I feared the worst. He never ignored an e-mail.
Throughout the years, we shared many opinions back and forth. He was a much welcomed guest at my wedding. He and Ms. Brisack made a huge and favorable impression on my bride that remains today.
I will miss him, but I will remember him. Always forthright, and full of life, advice, laughter, and a smile . . . . Intolerant of short-sightedness, but patient enough to help one develop their vision.
He was a teacher and a friend. Goodbye, Wayne.
Andre Stewart (Houston, Texas) - C/O 1985.
November 5, 2009
Oh Martin you rascal. You will be warmly remembered. You taught me how to really appreciate music--from chanting monks you boomed from your stereo as we entered class to Bach on the recorder. You inspired me to travel, to read history differently, to understand more profoundly. I am so grateful to have been touched by your philosophy on life and your teachings. Mitzi Carter-- Jones c/o 92
Cynthia Jones Narang
November 5, 2009
I can not think of one person who had more influence over the way that I process information. He taught me to think for myself, and to question everything. Because of you, Mr. Martin, I developed a love for music, history, and musical history!
Mr. Martin taught me how to play music on the recorder, attempted to teach me how to play the flute, and gave me a couple of voice lessons...all in his lunch hour. Enough said.
The world needs more teachers like him; the world needs more people like him. I will shed many tears for you Mr. Martin. You were loved.
Andrea Watson
November 4, 2009
You are one of the very best memories of my life and any success I've had was because you believed in me as a high school student. I am devastated and will greatly miss you. Love, Andrea Watson
Kfir Levy
November 4, 2009
Good teachers are a treasure and you, Mr. Martin, were the best.
And don't worry, I'll never forgot that in 1453 the Hundred Years War ended, Gutenberg invented the printing press, and Constantinople fell to the Ottomans.
Kfir Levy, c/o 1991
Johnna Pierre-Anotine
November 4, 2009
Mr. Martin, you touched us all. Vanguard meant so much more with you as an example of continued learning, worldliness and passion. We pushed beyond the boundaries that South Park would try to dictate to so many of us. Thank you for showing us that the world could be ours. You are missed.
- Johnna Lister Pierre-Antoine, Proud Vanguard Falcon Jones HS c/o 88
Terri (Harrell) Price
November 3, 2009
Mr. Martin was truly larger than life, in his "5 foot, 17inch" frame, he would joke. He made History, the present with his hundreds of slides and personal stories of his travels; and as challenging as his class was, one could not help but to come away with some new sense of viewing the world. Thank you, Mr. Martin. You were a great teacher! Jones c/o '87.
Jimmy Morgan
November 2, 2009
May God embrace your spirit with His eternal love. Rest in peace Uncle Wayne.
Nicole Robinson
November 2, 2009
Thinking back he was the best teacher I ever had. He knew we were more than we thought we could be and he demanded us to show him. I remember so many things from his class. His teachings are incorporated into my every day life.
Paula Zermeno c/o '88
November 2, 2009
Mr. Martin you have always stood tall in my memories of Jones and you always will. As a teacher you inspired learning.
Levester Ross
November 2, 2009
Rest in peace. Thanks for teaching the world. C/O 1985
Benjamin Moore
November 2, 2009
Mr. Martin's class was the one I studied hardest for in my high school career. He gave us a base of knowledge and built on it with his own experiences and wisdom. Thank you for all you gave to so many. This world is better for having you in it.
Alisa Allen
November 2, 2009
Mr. Martin's body may be gone, but his spirit lives on in all of his students.
He inspired us to forge past our fears and hang-ups to embrace the unknown. To find beauty in the strange and obscure. To use our minds. To find our passion. To share our stories. To do so much more.
His legacy will forever be in our hearts.
Much love, until we meet again...
Crystal Toussant
November 1, 2009
Mr. Martin,
It is with tearful eyes that I bid you farewell! You were my favorite teacher, because you nutured my love affair with History. You made me believe that I could travel the world physically or intellectually. In adulthood, I felt very excited when you expressed pride in my accomplishments and willingness to teach others! You are an inspiration for me & countless others. Your spirit will live on forever in our minds & hearts. I am looking forward to visiting your new place! Thanks for all of your loving knowledge!
Much Love Always,
Crystal Washington-Toussant
Jones Vanguard c/o 91
Vera Lopez
November 1, 2009
Mr. Martin was a wonderful teacher. He was the first person who actually believed that I could go to college and succeed. He believed in all his students and that's what made him so special.
Roger Redding
November 1, 2009
20+ years later you are still a giant among men, the prototypical teacher who teaches their students how to hunt for and even grow knowledge. It was an honor to be one of many that you blessed, Mr Martin.
c/o 88
Nahdiah Hoang
November 1, 2009
So many things from that one year have stuck with me...coffee really DOES taste better out of my own coffee cup; core knowledge really IS important; learning in threes really works. Sadly, I still can't tell the difference between romantic and classical music, but I will always remember the day Mr. Martin introduced me to the Houston MFA. And now, rosemary.
Love,
Nahdiah
Amy Auzenne
November 1, 2009
Mr. Martin called me just a few days before his stroke to wish me a happy birthday. We talked about life, and travel, and philosophy. I told him I was thinking about becoming a classroom teacher and he said, "You should consider it. It is a glorious way to spend your life."
Wayne Martin was many things - an artist, a writer, a lovable rascal - but always a teacher. He just couldn't stand to know something and not find a way to share that knowledge with someone else. God bless and keep you, Mr. Martin!
November 1, 2009
wove history together with the lives we were leading as young teenagers. made it relevant while making us feel relevant at the same time. SYNTHESIS!!!
Willie Horn
November 1, 2009
Your sins have been forgiven my friend!(Romans 6:23) How wonderful that is to know --the adventure has just begun and the learning will be infinate! You were a spectacular teacher and wonderful friend! Until next we meet!
Charlene Son Rigby
November 1, 2009
Mr. Martin, Thank you for sharing your world view and inspiring so many of us. Jones C/O '88.
Wayne Martin
November 1, 2009
Nhan Nguyen
November 1, 2009
Mr. Martin, it was an honor to have been your student.
Derek Williams
November 1, 2009
Wayne Martin was a huge influence in my life. He was my larger than life history teacher at Jesse H. Jones High School in Houston, TX. While others taught rote from the the textbooks, he showed us slides and photos from his OWN travels around the world. Hearing his thoughts about crawling inside pyramids in Egypt, with him being a huge man, is memorable. He played classical music while he taught. He was a excellent painter and photographer. Sorry I hit you with the snowball in Switzerland! You will be missed.
Amanda G
November 1, 2009
Mr. Martin -- your legacy as one of the most inspiring teachers will live on through the students whose lives you enriched.
November 1, 2009
A gentle giant that touched more lives than he knew...you will be missed. Nicole B C/O 90
Nanette Rousseau
November 1, 2009
Mr. Martin you have been one of the most inspirational professors I have ever had the pleasure of spending time with. Thank you for all the wonderful knowledge you shared with all of us "space cadets"! Jones C/O '90.
Rob Huebschmann
November 1, 2009
Every time I use chopsticks, I think of Wayne. Not only was he a great teacher, he inspired everyone to go out into the world and experience everything possible in the short time we have here. Like so many Vanguard teachers, he was has had a profound impact on so many people.
-Rob Huebschmann
Charles Carter
November 1, 2009
Mr. Martin was a great teacher. I have felt a profound loss at his passing. If (besides the Great Teacher) they need teachers in heaven, they should know that one of the best has now arrived.
Angela Gittens
November 1, 2009
He was a great history teacher. He taught me a lot. A good man will be missed. Angela Davis Gittens- Jones c/o '90
November 1, 2009
We will all drop be and say hello Mr. Martin...you're a super special guy....
November 1, 2009
Wayne, you were a good friend and inspirational teacher. I miss knowing you are not still in this world and I look forward to seeing you in the next. With much love, Barbara Elmore
William K
November 1, 2009
We'll always miss you, Mr Martin...
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