Cecilia Martyn

Prof. Martyn was my professor at Montclair State University in the early 90s. She was so encouraging and so supportive of my writing that I came back after graduation to ask her to write a letter of recommendation for graduate school. Years later, while teaching writing at Montclair State, I found that I had structured my syllabus much as she had a decade prior. She was my professor for both Intro to Writing and Intro to Lit - the core college experience in my major. She left a lasting,...

When Celia moved from New Jersey I lost a special friend, a great colleague and a fascinating walking companion. To talk to Celia was to feel her enthusiasm, the joy she found in her work, her music, her garden and her family.

Two winters ago I shoveled Celia's driveway, and everytime after I shoveled she invited me in to talk and eat snacks and listen to classical music. When it got warmer out, we would go on walks. She always had so many amazing stories to tell me and was absolutely hilarious. We would walk down a neighbor's driveway lined with trees which she called her Versailles walkway. If we saw the homeowner at the end of the driveway she would simply compliment him on his driveway. I regret losing touch...

...and when I look up to the moon I will always wonder what secrets of yours it holds for it always made you smile...❤