Charles Thomas Martz Sr.

Charles Thomas Martz, Sr.

Jan 4, 1934 - Mar 6, 2015

Charles Thomas Martz, Sr. told his last great story on March 6, 2015 in the comfort of his Piedmont, CA residence. He was 81 years old.

Tom was born January 4, 1934 in New Jersey, proudly spending his childhood in what he deemed the great town of Westfield. A graduate of Westfield High School in 1951, he was co-editor of the school newspaper, played guard for the Westfield High School Blue Devils basketball team, and was a member of the golf team. Tom's spare time was spent pushing, rather than driving, his beloved 1934 Ford Convertible to and from high school.

Tom became a Blue Devil once again at Duke University where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He graduated with a B.A. in Business in 1955. As freshly minted Lieutenant, Tom spent 3 years in the United States Air Force as a navigator of B-29 bombers. Initially stationed in Texas, Tom was transferred to Hamilton Air Force Base in Novato, CA, and thus began his love for the Bay Area. In between flights, Tom was active on both the Hamilton basketball team and the golf team, shooting a final-round 73 at the Sonoma Country Club to aid his four-man team to the Pacific Defense Area Golf Championship by one stroke.

Concluding his service at the rank of Captain, Tom moved to San Francisco where in 1960 he met and married his wife of 54 years, Nancy. Tom began his sales career in the magazine advertising business starting with The Saturday Evening Post and Travel Weekly, eventually becoming the Pacific Manager for National Geographic Magazine. Tom's time with National Geographic afforded him the opportunity to play golf courses all over the world, from Idaho to India. In 1979 Tom was hired as Time Inc.'s West Coast Manager of Fortune Magazine where he remained for eleven years.

In 1990, Tom became the President of the Northern California Broadcaster's Association, promoting radio marketing and advertising on behalf of 55 Bay Area radio station members. Tom was named UC Berkeley's 2000 Bear of the Year by the Bear Backers, despite his not having attended the university. The honor was granted for his support and dedication to the Cal Athletic Marketing Committee and the development of Cal's Haas Pavilion. Tom was not just a devoted Duke Basketball fan, and a Cal sports loyalist, he was an avid sports enthusiast in general, becoming involved in an array of different projects with the San Francisco 49ers and the San Francisco Giants, was Chairman of the Sr. PGA Charles Schwab Cup, and founded the Virginia Slims Tennis Tour Magazine with Billy Jean King in the 1970's.

After retiring from advertising in 2005, Tom became the President of the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame (BASHOF), raising over $2 million for youth sports programs in the Bay Area, and enshrining some of the Bay Area's great athletes and coaches. In 2013 Tom traded his President and CEO titles for that of Chairman of the Board, and was named the first ever Honorary Member of BASHOF. Tom retired from BASHOF in 2014.

Tom was a member of the San Francisco Yacht Club, Club H, Claremont Country Club, The Bohemian Club, The Olympic Club, Mayacama Golf Club, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, and The Carnoustie Golf Club in Scotland, which turns out to have been the bar and social club across the street from the actual golf course. He completed 12 marathons during his life, including the San Francisco Marathon, the Honolulu Marathon, Avenue of the Giants Marathon, and the 100th running of the Boston Marathon in 1997.

Tom won numerous golf tournaments, most of them contested at Claremont Country Club where he was a member for 44 years. He was Player of the Year in 1993 and 1995, won three Men's Invitationals, four Mixed 4-Ball Championships with his wife, one Father/Son Championship with his son Tom Jr., two Father/Son Championships with his son Kyle, and eleven Father/Daughter Championships with his daughter Jane. It should be noted that the Father/Son tournament trophy is named the Thomas Gibson Martz cup, in honor of Tom's father. Tom also won the 1999 California State Senior Golf Association Championship.

A member of the Bohemian Club for 36 years, Tom was given inexhaustible opportunities to do for his fellow Monastery brothers and club members what he did best: regale his friends and fellow members with jokes and stories, entertaining all he encountered. He presided as Sire over countless shows and theme nights both at the downtown club and the Grove encampment, an honor in which he reveled and loved.

Tom is survived by his wife Nancy, son Kyle and daughter Jane, and preceded by his son Tom Jr., with whom he is rejoicing from reuniting.

The Martz family would like to thank the ICU staff at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center for making it possible for Tom to spend his last months at home, Sutter Health Hospice for all their help and guidance, and Tom's caregivers, Anna, Leslie and Dewey, who showered Tom with kindness and compassion throughout his final journey.

Those who knew Tom will agree that he had a brand of humor all his own, spread laughter and friendship wide and far, and will be greatly missed.

A small private service will be held in the coming weeks, and in lieu of flowers, Tom would appreciate that donations be made to a charity of your choice, or to the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame (BASHOF): Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame, 465 California Street Suite 806, San Francisco, CA 94104 415.296.5606