Martin (Marty) Thomas Cannon, Jr.

Martin (Marty) Thomas Cannon, Jr., born on March 10th, 1938, lived a remarkable 85 years, filled with love, compassion, and unwavering commitment. On February 13, 2024, surrounded by his family in Tacoma, WA, Marty peacefully passed. His enduring legacy of love, generosity, and steadfastness touched everyone he encountered. Despite the health challenges he faced in his final weeks, Marty's humor, introspective insights, and unyielding spirit continued to illuminate those around him.

Marty grew up in the 1940s in the steel worker's town of Vandergrift, PA. Even as a young child, he was physically capable and strong, and valued hard work. At the tender age of 11, he reveled in the freshness of mornings, connecting with people on his paper route as he delivered the morning paper before school. As a teenager and young adult, Marty worked in the local open-hearth foundry, a dynamite factory, and a porcelain manufacturing plant. His industry secured funds for future studies as he was an impressive student, excelling in the sciences and mathematics.

In the fall of 1956, Marty enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh, PA, to study chemical engineering. However, after completing his freshman year, Marty took a year-long hiatus returning to labor to earn tuition funds. Remarkably, that year off aligned his college journey with that of Katherine Daurora. Upon his return for his second year, Marty found himself in line to pay a chemistry fee when he spotted Katherine-one of only two women pursuing an engineering degree. With quiet resolve, he leaned over to a friend and declared, "I am going to marry her." During his college years, Marty also served in the ROTC Army, and alongside Katherine, they both graduated in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering.

After graduation, Marty and Katherine married in Pittsburgh in 1962-a union that endured for 62 years and exemplified encouragement, steadfast support, commitment, strength, and boundless love. Their daughters affectionately referred to them as the 'Pillars.'

After completing his MS in Chemical Engineering at CMU, Marty joined a research and development division at Procter & Gamble. The couple then moved to Cincinnati, OH, where their first child, Cynthia, was born. Several months later, the young family relocated to Virginia, where Marty fulfilled his military commitment with the Army Corps of Engineers. Their second daughter, Lisa, was born at Fort Belvoir, VA. Marty and Katherine subsequently settled in Cincinnati, where they would spend the next 37 years. Together they built their first home and raised a lively family of four daughters: Cynthia, Lisa, Michele, and Dana. Marty embraced the challenge of living in a household of strong, remarkable women.

Marty embarked on a notable career at Procter & Gamble, where he ascended to leadership roles both nationally and globally. His contributions were instrumental in the development of many household names, particularly within the paper products division. Marty's natural inclination for service extended beyond his professional duties; he found immense joy in mentoring and nurturing others. Even decades after retiring from P&G, he continued to receive heartfelt notes of gratitude from those whose lives he touched. In his post-retirement years, Marty assumed the role of executive lead for a global philanthropic organization. His passion lay in empowering relief work, both stateside and in the villages of Western India, a region that held a special place in his heart.

For the Cannon family, Marty and Katherine were the cornerstones-the pillars of wisdom and inspiration. Their commitment to formal education, lifelong learning, and curiosity set the tone for their daughters' lives. Education is not merely a pursuit; it is a gift. Marty extended his passions beyond the confines of textbooks. His love of photography led him to develop prints in his own darkroom, capturing everyday moments with an artful eye. The night sky held great fascination. Astronomy and its intricate physics enthralled Marty. He ventured into remote areas with darkened skies with telescope and family in tow. Music was a source of great delight for Marty-from U2, Pink Floyd, the distinctive harmonics of Dave Brubeck, to the timeless compositions of Chopin.

Marty and Katherine lived their lives steeped in recognizing the divine presence within themselves, others, and nature. They hosted a meditation center in their home for sixteen years, offering weekly programs. Marty's legacy lies in promoting deep self-understanding coupled with treating others and nature with respect. His intellectual curiosity extended from astrophysics to the wisdom of Eastern and Western religious traditions. Over the years, he immersed himself in contemplative retreats across the United States, India, and most recently in on-line retreats and webinars.

In 2001, Marty and Katherine fulfilled a promise: whenever half of their children resided in one region, they would follow suit. The couple loving the breathtaking Pacific Northwest built their second home on the shores of Puget Sound in Federal Way. Soon after, all of their daughters and their families gravitated to that corner of the country; Marty and Katherine expanded their family with their cherished labradoodle, Surya. For Marty, each day brought wonder and joy in the natural splendor of the water, majestic mountains, and marine life. He fully embraced and was intimately involved in the lives of his daughters, their husbands, and the grandchildren from infant swaddling, port and trainyard explorations, school pickups, resumé-building, exploring local geology, and hikes at Mt Rainer.

Marty's legacy transcends his shared life. His integrity, boundless generosity, passion for learning, and profound appreciation of life-the essence of love-continue to resonate for his family and friends.

Martin is survived by his wife Katherine Daurora Cannon, brothers Doug Cannon, Dave Cannon, Charles Cannon, sister Kathleen Mathis, his daughter Cynthia Cannon, his daughter Lisa Hashman, her husband Tom Hashman, their children Sarah Becken, her husband Zachary Becken, Allison Todd, her husband Kenan Todd, his daughter Michele Cannon Bessler, her husband Robert Bessler, their children Max, Alexandra and Leo, his daughter Dana Cannon, her husband Jeremy Porter, their children Oliver and Vivian. He is predeceased by his sister Betty Ann Stover. A memorial service will be held in the coming spring. Memorial contributions may be made to National Parks Conservation Association (https://www.npca.org/give/memorial-tribute-giving).