Martin C. Pilsch Jr.

Martin C. Pilsch, Jr., 83, passed away at his Annapolis home November 4, 2024, after a long
battle with heart disease,.
Marty was born in Baltimore on June 30, 1941 to Martin C. Pilsch, Sr. and Isabella (Denner)
Pilsch. He was raised in Baltimore and after graduating from Baltimore City College High
School he went on to attend Loyola (College) University. While at Loyola he was named All American twice for his lacrosse achievements. Co-captain of the swim team, he won
numerous freestyle events resulting in Mason-Dixon conference team championships for
Loyola. He was proud to be inducted into the Loyola Sports Hall of Fame and maintained
contact with his swim teammates and coach until he passed.
Marty was an ROTC student and upon graduation joined the U.S. Army as a commissioned
officer. His military career of seven years included several overseas tours. Deployed to Viet
Nam during the war he became a harbormaster and ran supply convoys up and down the Viet
Nam coast. Captain Pilsch was awarded the Bronze Star and several other commendations
for his exemplary service.
Honorably discharged in 1970, Marty returned to Baltimore and began a long rewarding career
in the maritime industry. Positions of note included Operations Director of the Port of Baltimore
and Director of the Port of Boston. He was elected president of the North Atlantic Ports
Association and was named Admiral of the Chesapeake Bay by the governor of Maryland in
recognition of his maritime service.
Following a stint on the West Coast as a vice president of a maritime equipment company
Marty returned to the Maryland area and formed a consulting firm to advise ports on the
purchase of equipment. As a consultant he was commissioned by the World Bank on several
occasions to assist seaports worldwide as they were recovering from natural disasters. Marty
enjoyed writing and for many years was the equipment editor for an industry magazine. He
retired in 2015 and still occasionally receives calls from former associates asking for equipment
advice.
Marty married Linda Pittman of Baltimore in 1963 and they raised their two children in the
Boston area while Marty was the director of the port there. Boston is also where Mart married
his current wife, Susan, in 1995.
Marty is survived by his spouse, Susan, his daughter, Nancy, his son, Michael, his daughter-in-law, Libbie, his brother Thomas and sister, Christine Hawthorne, his former wife, Linda Hiort, as
well as numerous cousins, their spouses and children.
Marty will be interred in a private ceremony at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Crownsville.
A celebration of Life will take place at a later date.
If you would like to make a donation in Marty's memory please consider the Disabled American
Vets or the Alzheimer's Association.