Michael Peter Martin

MARTIN, Michael Peter - A fierce heart was finally silenced after an eleven-year battle with cardiomyopathy. With his family at his side, Michael Martin died peacefully on March 5, 2009, at the age of 54. Born and raised in Montreal, Michael was an avid hiker, fisherman and skier (earning the nickname "Madman Martin"). He worked as a journeyman/ typographer at the Montreal Star and the Montreal Gazette before moving to Toronto where he eventually opened his own business, MPath Inc. Michael found his calling teaching at Overland Learning Centre and as a Professor of Computer Graphics at George Brown College. In May 2005, Mike received a Left Ventricular Assist Device and he was Canada's longest surviving LVAD patient. He was cared for over the years by a host of extraordinary and dedicated doctors and nurses, including Drs. Robert Cusimano, Shereen Ezzat, Gary Newton, Vivek Rao, Heather Ross, and Warren Rubenstein, as well as Sarah Greenwood, Stephen Harwood, Jane MacIver, Marnie Rodgers, and Brigitte Televsky, and many others to whom we are very grateful. Words cannot express how much they meant to Michael and his family. We also thank the CCAC for their amazing nurses. He is survived by his parents, Peter Martin and Johanna Martin, his brother Andrew (Sandra Walker), nieces Courtney and Jayclyn Martin, sister Jennifer (Robert Kepes), niece Victoria and nephew David Kepes. Michael leaves behind family in Britain and Europe whom he cherished. We will miss his irreverent sense of humour, his intellect and his deep "radio voice". In his memory, the family would greatly appreciate donations to The LVAD Patient Research Fund, c/o Dr. Vivek Rao, Toronto General Hospital, 4th Floor, Rm 4N464, 200 Elizabeth St., Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2C4. A memorial service will be held at The Granite Club (2350 Bayview Ave.) on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at 2 p.m., followed by a reception. Shiva will be observed from 7 to 10 p.m on Wednesday and Thursday, at 121 Dinnick Crescent.