Martin A. "Marty" McGuane

1957 - 2012

ERVING – Martin ""Marty"" A. McGuane, 55, of Erving, died Tuesday (10-9-12) at 8 Lillian St., Greenfield, at the home of his mother, Phyllis O'Hara, and his stepfather, Kenneth LaMorder.
He was born in Greenfield on May 11, 1957, the son of Allan McGuane and Phyllis O'Hara. Marty attended local schools and was a graduate of Greenfield High School, Class of 1975. He received an Associate's Degree from Greenfield Community College and attended the University of Massachusetts.
Marty received his commercial radio license at age 16 and worked part time at WHAI
while still in high school. His career included stints at stations in Greenfield, Orange,
WARE, Ware; WUPE, Pittsfield; WRSI, Greenfield, where he was the first music
director. He was also an on-call cameraman for WWLP Channel 22.
He was a member of the Greenfield School Committee where he served as chair of
the Finance Committee, as well as the Greenfield Town Council, where he served a
term as president.
A ""Big Brother"" for Big Brother/Big Sister, he later became a member of its board.
Active in the Community Meals Program for many years, he raised funds for the
organization and often was found cooking meals for groups. He was a founding
member of Hospice of Franklin County and continued to serve on the Board of
Directors. In addition, he was a Board of Directors member of the United Arc of
Franklin and Hampshire Counties.
When he returned to Greenfield, he started ""Marty's Music,"" playing for many
weddings in the area. Carrying crates of LP recordings up and down many stairs was
not easy, but he recalled that his grandfather, Philip O'Hara, was head of a 17-piece orchestra in the 1920s and 30s, playing all over western New England. ""Phil's
Melody Boys"" became ""Marty's Music"" as the music world changed, according to
Marty.
As executive director of Greenfield Community Television (GCTV), he started the
telethons for the Greenfield High School Band, raising substantial funds over the
years. When he resumed that role at Frontier Cable Access Television (F-CAT) in
Deerfield, Sunderland and Whately, the Frontier Band received the same type of
service providing much needed funds.
His greatest love was Greenfield Community College and its place in the community.
He remembered his father, then a State Representative, working with two friends:
Gov. Foster Furcolo and with the Speaker of the House, John Thompson, a role
later to be held by Rep. Thomas McGee of Boston, Allan McGuane's former law school roommate. They were instrumental in the founding of GCC now 50 years ago.
Following his father's death in 2003, he instituted the ""Allan (Bucky) McGuane
Scholarship"" for Nursing Students. Original funding was gathered from the Annual
Bucky-Ball Golf Tournament. The scholarship is now endowed and funds for this program continue to offer support for single mothers entering nursing.
His father, Judge Allan McGuane, predeceased him on Jan. 1, 2003.
Among his survivors he leaves his mother, Phyllis O'Hara, and his stepfather, Kenneth LaMorder of Greenfield; his ex-wife, Jan (Matthews) McGuane; two brothers, Brennan N. McGuane and his wife Karen of Sunderland and Garrett L. McGuane and his wife Ellen of Greenfield; two sisters, Erin M. Lynch and her husband Atty. Robert Lynch of Milton and Dr. Colleen S. McGuane and her companion, Lincoln Bitar of Spencer; five nieces and nephews, Brendan Lynch, Molly Lynch, Rowen Allan McGuane, Emma Knight and Sam Knight and many cousins.
Funeral services will be held on Monday (10-15) at 11 a.m. at Second Congregational Church, 16 Court Square, in Greenfield. Burial will be at the convenience of the family.
Calling hours will be on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Kostanski Funeral Home, 220 Federal St., Greenfield, MA 01301.
Marty gave in death, as he gave in life, through tissue donation through LifeChoice of New England.
Memorial contributions may be made to Greenfield Community College Foundation, c/o the Scholarship Fund, 270 Main St., Greenfield MA 01301; Franklin County Community Meals Program, P.O. Box 172, Greenfield, MA 01302; Hospice of Franklin County, 329 Conway St., Greenfield, MA 01301; Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Franklin County, 16 Court Square, Greenfield, MA 01301, or The United Arc of Franklin and Hampshire Counties, 111 Summer St., Greenfield, MA 01301.
Sympathy message available at: www.kostanskifuneralhome.com.