Mr. Frank Joseph Martin

Mr. Francis (Frank) Joseph Martin was born on July 26, 1935 in Caribou, Maine. On April 23, 2014 he entered eternal life and was greeted in heaven by his wife and other loved ones that he missed so much on earth. Frank is survived by his two daughters, two sons, one grandchild. His children and their partners include Dawn Marie Martin & Sandra Sussman and their daughter Dana; Gregory Scott Martin; Patrick Joseph Martin & Juliet Martin; and Michelle Lynn Martin & Mark Heidenreich. Frank is one of eleven children and is survived by his sisters Thelma (Tallie) Florance Brownstein, Rita Winefred Michaud, Lorraine Evone Roy and Gloria Alfreda Smith, and by his brothers Elmer (Al) Thomas Martin and Leo Alcide Martin. Donna Lee (Johnson), Frank's wife, pre-deceased him on April 26, 2005. Frank and Donna were married on August 8, 1959 at Christ the King Church in Los Angeles, California. They moved to their home in North Hollywood in the spring of 1961 and have been active parishioners at St. Patrick's Catholic Church since that time. Frank was the son of the late Beatrice Agnus Martin (Corriveau) of Van Buren, Maine born on March 14, 1900 and Levite (Levi) Rosario Martin born in Caribou, Maine on August 18, 1893; they were married on November 22, 1921 by Rev. Ludger J. Ouellette at the Holy Rosary Church in Caribou. His paternal grandparents were Xavier Martin of Maine and Suzanne Martin (Albair) of Canada who were married at Saint Basil's Church, New Brunswick, Canada in 1865. His maternal grandparents were Octave Corriveau born in 1873 in Grand Isle, Maine and Jeannie Corriveau (Michaud) born in 1878 in Presque Isle, Maine. Frank grew up on his parent's potato farm in Maine and graduated in 1949 from Sacred Heart Elementary and in the class of 1953 from Caribou High School, where he regularly attended class reunions. To support his move to California in 1954, Frank sold magazines door-to-door and when he arrived in Los Angeles he began working for Boeing Aircraft. He then decided to branch out on his own and started a company to deliver farm fresh eggs to communities in Los Angeles. A few years later, with his brother Al, he opened Nualco Corporation to manufacture and install screens, windows, awnings and patio covers. After earning his general contractors license, Frank began focusing on remodeling, building and designing custom homes throughout southern California. In his retirement he maintained his interest in real estate, through Martin Construction Company and later transitioned his North Hollywood office building into a recording and practice studio for musicians that continues today as Martin Rehearsal Studios. In November of 2007, Frank was diagnosed with fourth stage metatastic colon cancer which he never stopped fighting with amazing strength and courage. While it was a massive stroke that took Frank's life in the end, the family wishes to extend their thanks and appreciation to the doctors, nurses and staff at City of Hope Hospital in Duarte, CA. They worked as a team to give him at least six more years of life beyond his initial prognosis and Frank always felt confident in the treatment he always received there. During his illness, he never stopped working and always made time for his family and friends whom he enjoyed meeting every day for lunch, conversation and companionship. A loving husband, father and grandfather, a dear friend and a successful businessman, Frank was always very warm and generous to his family and friends. In his final days he was surrounded by all of his children. While he will be greatly missed by them and all who knew him, he has warmed their hearts in a way that will be cherished forever. "It is not the actual physical exertion that counts towards a one's progress, nor the nature of the task, but by the spirit of faith with which it is undertaken." -Saint Francis Xavier