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1922
2018
11/28/1922 - 12/5/2018Bob was born in New York to Charles and Mary Martin. His grandparents; Shaughnessy, Martin, Corcoran and Aherne were all Irish. Bob called himself, as did President Jack Kennedy, a third generation narrow-back; i.e., wearing a coat and tie, no longer laying bricks. The family moved to a truck farm in Dix Hills., Huntington, Long Island. His Dad kept the books and commuted daily by steam train and subway to Wall Street where he worked for an Investment Firm. Their nearest neighbor was a mile away and all roads were dirt and gravel. Eventually the family moved to the South Shore where brother Arthur was born. All sons graduated from Baldwin High School. Charles and John attended Manhattan College on track scholarships. Bob passed up a baseball scholarship to Duke to join fellow lifeguards Sullivan, Nuding, and brother John (he left college when Charles began pilot training) to Ohio State University where they became members of Chi Phi Fraternity. WWII was in progress, so Bob, John and Jack Nuding volunteered for flight training. Color perception and a locked knee injury nixed pilot school for Bob so he completed various technical schools and flew to Italy on a B-24 Bomber as a Sperry Ball Turret Gunner. His unit, 454th Bomb Group 15th Air Force, flew mission over the roof of Europe to industrial targets against the Axis. When the war ended in Europe, Bob became a Lifeguard Lieutenant at Jones beach, Long Island and received a degree from Amherst College. Graduate school was Trinity College, Dublin where, amongst relatives and friends, Bob felt like he was coming back to where he had never been. At Jones Beach Bob met and married the enduring love of his life, Monica Maria Schmid from Basel Switzerland. Monica was scheduled to return home in a year but their attraction for each other suspended that plan. Bob accepted a job teaching English and History at Chadwick School; California and they began raising a family. Monica taught French to elementary students at Chadwick School where their children, Tara, Brian and Stacy were enrolled. When Bob left Chadwick in 1956, he received an unexpected honor. The students dedicated the school's yearbook to him with a warm appreciation for his teaching and its effect on them. Bob entered the booming aerospace industry and held various positions at Servomechanism, System Development Corp., Douglas Missile and Space, and co-founded a computer software company, Automated Services Corp. During these years, Bob attended night law school at USC and received a J.D. Degree in 1965. After a few years of practice, Governor Reagan appointed Bob Chief Counsel of the Alcoholic Beverage Appeals Board and later appointed him Welfare Director for the State of California where he played a part in Reagan's legislative reform of the Welfare System. Bob and family moved to Rolling Hills Estates when he accepted a position as Special Assistant to Los Angeles District Attorney Joe Busch. For the next twenty-two years Bob prosecuted a variety of serious felonies, including six death verdicts, and eleven life without parole. In 1989, Bob's colleagues voted him PROSECUTOR OF THE YEAR and hosted a well-attended banquet where he received tributes from Ronald Reagan, California's Attorney General, LA Sheriff, LA Police Chief, Torrance Police Chief and County Board of Supervisors. Bob developed a curriculum for a Travel Law class at Junior College and taught it one night a week. Later, he used this experience in private practice. At the age of 70, Bob finally became pilot and flew Cessna 172's at Zamperini Field in Torrance. Bob and Monica literally traveled the globe: cruises in Greece, Scandinavia, Alaska, Panama, around South America, Caribbean Islands, Hawaii, the South Pacific and a container ship to Australia, River cruises on the Mississippi, Rhine-Danube to the Black Sea, Venezuela's Orinoco, China's Yangtze, Brazil's Amazon, and Australia's Barrier Reef. They took train trips across Canada and across Australia on the Indian Pacific in four visits, they drove through all of Australia's states including the Northern Territories Outback, circled Tasmania, and spent a week on Norfolk Island in the Coral Sea. Other driving trips covered most countries of Europe; Ireland, England, Scotland, Scandinavia, Germany, Austria, Spain and Italy, etc. as well as two trips across America. They visited American Indian sites at Mesa Verde, Canyon de Chelley, Acoma, Chaco Canyon, and Navaho and Zuni reservations. With archeologists who could read inscriptions, they toured Mayan sites in Mexico and Central America, and visited Peru's Machu Picchu. Their favorite trips involved rented cars and houses in France, Italy, Czechoslovakia, and numerous hiking vacations at Monica's family Villa Suvrettina in St. Moritz Switzerland. With the knowledge that all family members were healthy, loved, enjoying each other, and pursuing interesting careers, Monica and Bob could relax and indulge their most pleasurable routine of sitting side by side under a lamp at home reading a book. Bob's brother, Charles, a former Air Force Test Pilot died in 1944 in combat in China. John, also a pilot died in air crash in 1984 in South America, and brother Arthur, a lawyer, died of natural causes in 2009. Survivors include Bob's most loved lifelong companion wife Monica, for 67 years, daughter Tara (Jay), son Brian (Traci), son Stacy (Jae) and ten grandchildren. Services will be held 11:30AM, Friday, December 21, 2018 at Green Hills Memorial Chapel, Rancho Palos Verdes, California.Please sign the guestbook at dailybreeze.com/obits.
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Rest peacefully, Bob Martin. You truly inspired me to embrace meaning rather than just content in life’s learning. You’re missed by us all.
John Sturges, Chadwick ‘56
John Sturges
Student
December 2, 2020
You are missed! But the world awaits your return.
Artista Marchioni
December 22, 2018
My heartfelt condolences to Bob Martin's family in their loss. More than 60 years ago, I was lucky enough to discover in him an inspiring teacher who then became an ongoing mentor to me, and, together with his wife Monica, a life-guide, in the uncertain and seeking years of my teens. Bob, exceptional in so many aspects of his life, was - in the culture of that time - exceptional too in never condescending to his high-school students. He respected us by expecting a lot from us. As a teacher he was serious, in a manner highly unusual, and enduringly impressive, to a number of us who will never forget him. At the same time, he was fun! And Monica was fun. They brought gusto, humor, wit, and at the same time - so important - empathetic imaginations to the board. As time went on, they became very dear friends to me. I was 15 when I first knew Bob, as his student. By the time I was 16, I also had become a frequent visitor to the Martins' home, table, and conversation, as well as a sometime babysitter to the adorable Tara and Brian. (Stacy was just a baby when I left for college on the east coast.) And now my eightieth birthday is approaching. But through all our many changes, I have been so privileged in the enduring friendship and affection of Bob and Monica. I thank him, for everything he was and gave, from the bottom of my heart. I pray that his family may be happy and comforted in their rememberings of him.
Anita Kermode
December 20, 2018
The Bowers family of the Mid-Atlantic States send the warmest memories to Bob, Monica and the Schmid/Martin families. You enriched our lives in so many ways including with your humor and Christmas travel stories as well as helping to carry on the Swiss connection between our families. We'll see you on the other side... With Love,
Marge Bowers (99), Chip & Sue Bowers, Pat Bowers Thomas
Pat BowersThomas
December 19, 2018
As a former PVE resident, I'll always cherish the gifts of thinking taught me by Bob Martin. And I'll always remember visiting with Monica and Bob at their beach home. God bless you Bob, and your family.
John Sturges, Chadwick class of 1956
December 17, 2018
Bob
You kindled a light in your students which continues bright. You'll be missed, but your mark continues on. Stay strong Monica, as Bob would have wanted.
John Sturges, Chadwick 56
December 17, 2018
To Monica, Stacy, Tara, and Brian... my heart goes out to you all. I wish you the peace and solace of sweet memories, to hold you through this painful time... With much love, Cindy Melcher
December 16, 2018
My condolences to the family and friends of Robert Martin. May you have comfort and hope, John 6:40 during this most difficult time. D. Hamilton
D Hamilton
December 13, 2018
Meeting Mr. Martin was like meeting such a significant part of history. I feel lucky. Sending my condolences to Brian and the entire family.
December 11, 2018
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Dec
21
11:30 a.m.
Green Hills Mortuary & Memorial Chapel27501 South Western Avenue, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
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Green Hills Mortuary & Memorial Chapel27501 South Western Avenue, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
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