DAVID NATHAN MARTIN

MARTIN, David Nathan, passed away on Tuesday, October 2, 2012, at age 82, from melanoma cancer. He was born in Tucson, Arizona, on April 19, 1930 to Evelyn Stadelman and Hawley Phillips Martin. David attended public schools in Richmond and was co-captain of the Thomas Jefferson High School football team. In 1952, he received a Bachelor of Science degree from Hampden-Sydney College, where he later became a trustee and, in recent years, hosted its annual leadership seminar. After college, David joined Cargill & Wilson Advertising. In 1961, he was named Richmond's "Outstanding Young Man," became president of the Richmond Advertising Club, and helped revitalize the Richmond Better Business Bureau, where he later served as president. In 1965, he co-founded Martin & Woltz and in 1975 renamed it The Martin Agency, serving as CEO until 1987. The agency grew to be one of the nation's most creative firms and produced award-winning campaigns, such as the enduring "Virginia is for Lovers" campaign. After his retirement, David continued his love for advertising by partnering with others to form Hawley Martin Partners, Atlanta-based Fahlgren Martin, and Martin Branding, where he branded institutions, corporations, non-profits and communities, including Richmond's "Easy to Love" campaign. In the 1990s, he was inducted into the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame and the Richmond Business Hall of Fame, and authored two books on marketing, Romancing the Brand and Be the Brand. David's volunteer interests also centered on arts and communications. As president of the Richmond Ballet in the early 1970s, he helped initiate the Nutcracker as an annual event, now a Richmond Christmas tradition. He helped establish the VCU Brand Center and the Miami Ad School, and served on the organizing board of J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. He also served as vice chairman of the board of directors of The Central Virginia Public Broadcasting Corporation (WCVE) until his death. A prolific painter, David produced nearly 80 paintings. His love for life, color and the arts is captured in the many large and small canvases that adorn his house and the home of friends and family. An avid golfer, in the past few months he twice shot his age, and in 2009 scored a 156-yard hole-in-one. For his golf buddies and friends, he recently authored a pocket handbook, "Sweet Shots for Bogey Golfers." He also authored three novels. This past spring, David's 1980 portrait by Richmond artist Louis Briel was added to the National Portrait Gallery collection at the Smithsonian in Washington. David Martin is survived by his wife of 20 years, Ann Louise; his brother, Stephen Hawley Martin; and his four children and their families, Sarah and her children, Levent and Lale Herguner, Susan, her husband, David and their children, Charlotte and Gordon Mitchell, Rob, his wife Adrienne, and their children, Sheppard and Lee Martin, and Dave, his wife Marian, and their children, Brice, Turner and Weston Martin. The family will receive guests Monday, October 8, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Bliley's-Central, 3801 Augusta Ave. On Tuesday, October 9, at 3 p.m., a memorial service celebrating his life will take place at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 12291 River Rd., followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, the family is grateful for contributions in David's honor to The Community Idea Stations (WCVE), Richmond Junior Achievement, or the educational institution of one's choosing.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.