MAXINE MARTZ Obituary

Maxine Martz 1918 ~ 2010 Maxine Martz died Saturday, February 13 at Salt Lake Regional Hospital. She was 92. A graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, Maxine moved to Salt Lake City in 1944. She was a reporter for the Deseret News for 42 years prior to her retirement in 1986. She loved her work and said it was like getting a college education every day. After her retirement she authored a book, Why Hurry Through Heaven: A Biography-Memoir of Dr. Walter P. Cottam. Maxine and friends enjoyed bird watching and exploring the great outdoors, particularly in Utah. She was an excellent photographer and a great humorist. Born to Clara and Charles Martz in Des Moines, Iowa, she was preceded in death by her brothers Tom and George. She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Marie Ash and Linn Welch of Des Moines; and eight nephews and nieces: Larry Martz, Ft. Collins CO; Nancy Marie Martz, Heber City UT, Jim Martz, Des Moines; Jack Martz, Pittsburgh PA; Lanny Ash, Lincoln NE; Jane Ogg, Seattle WA, Peggy McEvoy, Des Moines; and Tim Ash, Ankeny IA. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Nature Conservancy, 559 E South Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84102.

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Published by The Salt Lake Tribune on Feb. 15, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for MAXINE MARTZ

6 Entries

Wanda Lund

February 20, 2010

I began work as a stringer for the Deseret News in 1947, later becoming a staff writer. Maxine was a womderful woman and an a great example for all of us --extremely competent -- one of the best. I I left the paper in 1976 and she was still going strong. .She will be missed. Sincere sympathy to all of her family.

Angelyn Hutchinson

February 16, 2010

Maxine was the best -- capable, smart, talented, nice. She started in the news biz when there were very few women reporters and was a role model for so many of us. She could take dictation over the phone from a reporter on a tight deadline and mold it into a concise, comprehensive story.
I joined the DNews staff only a couple of years before she retired but have discussed her example and abilities with young reporters and aspiring reporters-to-be for many years.
Rest in peace, Maxine.
Angelyn N. Hutchinson, Deseret News assistant managing editor

February 16, 2010

Dear Aunt Ceeny, I will miss you so much. I have so many wonderful memories of all our years we shared. So grateful you were part of my life and our family. I'll miss your wit and sense of humor. You could always make me laugh. I'll treasure the family history you gave to all of us a few years back, it means even more to me now. What a legacy to pass on to my children and their children. How we will miss you!!! You were so loved. Janie Ogg Seattle Wa.

Joe Bauman

February 15, 2010

Maxine was a great trooper of a reporter, columnist and rewrite woman. Her tough integrity made her a mentor to so many of us. We shared a working space when I started at the Deseret News in 1971, and I admired her from the start. My admiration for her grew and grew over the years. What a great lady. I'm really saddened by this. -- Joe Bauman

Carol Smith

February 15, 2010

To Marie, Larry, Pee Wee, and all the rest of Max's family - I loved her and will miss her greatly. I enjoyed such wonderful times with her and your wonderful family - hikes, breakfast cookouts, picnics, evening cookouts, happy hours, and other many opportunities to enjoy good food, family and the outdoors. She opened my eyes to so many new things in nature and helped me to slow down and enjoy what I was seeing and smelling on a hike. We spent lots of good times hiking to lakes, walking thru the Utah woods, and sharing a meal next to a creek or river. And of course, plenty of camp fires with stories and glasses of wine.

She also helped introduce me to the desert and showed me how to enjoy it as much as the mountains. I enjoyed being included in the Thursday outings and meeting her hiking group.

I never had an Aunt, so always thought of her as 'my aunt Max'. And I still do. She taught me by example - not to criticize, how to see the humor in life, and what to value in nature.

I loved reading her book and her articles in the newspaper. They provided a slice of her personality and unique humor.

I loved looking at her pictures, and she helped me a lot in learning how to take pictures of nature. My great fascination with the camera and looking at the world thru a viewfinder has much to do with her - things that I will treasure all my life.

I always enjoyed talking to her, no matter how long it had been since our last vacation or hike - she was a quiet, peaceful person who enjoyed life and I think of her often when my life needs more quiet or peace.

When I look thru the viewfinder of my camera, I frequently wonder how would Maxine frame this scene. Thinking of her helps me capture better images, and sometimes I still find myself wishing I could share a photo with her.

I loved her and will miss her.

Holly Mullen

February 15, 2010

Maxine was an early role model for me. I joined the Deseret News as a cub reporter in 1981 and used to marvel at her talent for taking a jumbled mess of reporter's notes and making a legible story out of them. She truly mastered the now-defunct art of "rewrite." And she was a devoted environmentalist in her quiet way as she so enjoyed birding. Rest in peace, Maxine.

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