Martine Mayfield

Martine J. Mayfield NORFOLK - Martine J. Mayfield of the 1200 block of Westmoreland Ave., died Thursday, July 2, 2009 in her home. She was 52. Martine had battled breast cancer much of the past six years without losing the grace, warmth and gentle humor that brought her much love from family and friends. Martine Judith Romano was born Oct. 29, 1956, in Uniontown, Pa., the daughter of Martin and Betty Romano. After graduating from St. John's Catholic High School in Uniontown, she attended West Virginia University, where she graduated in 1978 with a bachelor's degree in family resources. She met her husband, David Mayfield, while at WVU, and they were married in 1978. Martine's first career was in nutrition, and she worked as a hospital dietitian in Cumberland, Md., and New Castle, Pa., before moving with her husband to Hampton Roads in 1984. She resumed her dietetics work in Hampton, Va., and worked her way up to food services director at what was then Hampton General Hospital in 1987. After earning a master's degree in administrative sciences at George Washington University, Martine began a second career in human resources that was well suited to her fair-minded and generous nature. She quickly became HR director at Hampton General and worked in various HR positions at Sentara Healthcare after that network's merger with the hospital. She retired from Sentara earlier this year. Martine was a mentor to many current and former Sentara human resources professionals. Her work colleagues were among several large circles of friends she accumulated over the years without really trying. Her unselfish spirit and ready and hearty laugh drew people to her, and she was regarded as a "best friend" by more than a few. Martine's greatest joy was her son, Zachary, born in 1992. She left her fast-track career path to be the mom she wanted to be. She also loved traveling, and even after her cancer diagnosis traveled twice to Italy and to other beautiful places. She was a voracious reader, with mysteries her favorites. She also enjoyed cooking, especially the recipes handed down from her Italian-born grandmother and other relatives. Martine was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, where she volunteered as a religious education teacher. She had been a member of the Larchmont Circle of Friends, which raises money for Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters. Beside her husband and son, other survivors include her brother, Albert Romano of Fairfax, Va., and his sons, Jacob and Joshua; her stepmother, Rose Romano of Uniontown, Pa.; her stepsister, Toni Schwartzmiller of Mount Lebanon, Pa., and her daughters, Lorenza and Gabrielle; as well as aunts, uncles, cousins, and many other relatives. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday, Aug. 4, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Norfolk, with a reception for family and friends at that time. Details will be published at a later date. Friends are asked to withhold gifts of flowers and memorial donations at this time, pending the creation of a nonprofit foundation in Martine's memory to promote Italian language studies among high school students in Hampton Roads. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Norfolk Chapel, is handling arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at www.hdoliver.com.