Eric Martin

Plum Island, Mass. - Eric Martin, co-founder and president of City Sports and father of three passed away on September 10th after a long illness. He and a high school friend started the City Sports chain of sporting goods stores with a single door on Massachusetts Avenue in Boston in 1983. The chain now spans cities from the Hub to Atlanta and the company's t-shirts are often seen across the country.

Martin was a passionate athlete and sports enthusiast, playing varsity tennis and soccer in college, and skiing professionally in Breckenridge, Colo. He infused his love of sports into his business, running an office that would often clear out at noon for 2-hour roller-hockey games, and never refusing a challenge on the ping-pong table.

A resident of Plum Island, Mass., Eric loved to fish, sail, windsurf, and kayak. He and his wife, Katie, adopted two children and gave birth to a third all of whom carry on Eric's zest for sports and the outdoors. He and his family have been active contributors to Newburyport's sports and community scenes and have also made their presence felt on the bike trails and ski mountains of North Conway, N.H., where they recently built a log cabin and launched a beautiful development along the Swift River.

Remembered by all are Eric's boundless energy, generosity, enthusiasm for life, passion for sports, entrepreneurial spirit, and love for his family.

A Memorial Service will be held at Cashman Park, Newburyport, 5 Pop Crowley Way, on September 22, at 3 p.m. Recommended attire: jeans and City Sports t-shirts.

Eric is the son of Pat and Stearns Martin of Groton Long Point, and brother to Alison Martin Trumbull and Kristi Martin. He is survived by his father and his sister, Kristi Martin, of Lincoln, Mass.

His wife and children request that donations be sent to Wide Horizons for Children, 38 Edge Hill Road, Waltham, MA 02451, an agency the couple used in their adoptions.