Martin W. Lundgren

Martin W. Lundgren, beloved father, husband, brother and devoted public servant, passed away peacefully on June 30th at the age of 74, at CT Hospice in Branford, where he was able to spend his final days in their wonderful care and with a view of Branford Harbor, a place that held special importance to him and his cherished family and friends. Born on May 23, 1951, in New Haven, Martin was the cherished son of the late Stanley and Eileen Lundgren. His father, Stanley, served the New Haven community as a police officer and later as a special investigator for the State's Attorney's office, while his mother, Eileen, was born and raised in London, England, and was a loving, devoted mother to her four children. He is survived by his wife Mary Lundgren; siblings Linda Mayer (William), Dennis Lundgren (Elaine) and Carl Lundgren; his children – Courtney Connors (Leo Jr.), Patrick Lundgren (Gianna) and Kelsey Leotti (Matthew) and their mother Deborah Salemme; stepdaughters, Jillian and Christine Mulqueen. He will be deeply missed by his seven grandchildren, Leo III, Ava & Roy Connors, Liam and Jack Lundgren, Matthew Jr. and Luca Leotti, and several nieces and nephews. Beyond his loving family and numerous friends, Martin joins in eternal rest those members of the New Haven Fire Department who went before him, while the strong bonds of brotherhood he leaves behind will always remember him as "the Swede." A proud graduate of Wilbur Cross High School, class of 1969, Martin excelled athletically, playing football and hockey. He continued his education at Southern Connecticut State College for 2 years, where he also played football. Martin dedicated his life to serving his community as a member of the New Haven Fire Department, joining in 1978 and faithfully serving for 33 years. His career included assignments to Truck 3, Tactical Unit 2, The Emergency Unit, Engine 9, and Squad 2. He became an EMT in 1981 and a Paramedic in 1984, roles in which he provided lifesaving care and comfort to countless individuals. Martin retired from the NHFD in 2011, leaving behind a legacy of courage, compassion, grit and professionalism. He was the recipient of one meritorious citation, four unit citations, and was honored as the Knights of St. Patrick Firefighter of the Year in 2010. Outside of his professional life, Martin found great joy on the water and in the outdoors. He was an avid boater and a proud member of the Branford Yacht Club, where he spent many happy hours navigating the CT shoreline and sharing his love of boating with his first mate, Mary and countless friends and family. Martin also cherished camping trips with his loved ones at Hammonasset in Madison, CT, creating lasting memories on O Street. He taught his children to ski and enjoyed family ski trips to Sugarloaf, Maine. These moments spent boating, camping and skiing were among his happiest, and he treasured the time spent with family above all else. He also loved spending time with his friends and fellow firefighters, whether they were out on the golf course or embarking on spontaneous adventures. He cherished every round of golf, sharing laughter and camaraderie with his closest companions. Martin was also an active member of the Elks Lodge New Haven No. 25 and New Haven Local 825 and a past member of the Knights of St. Patrick. Visitation will take place on Monday July 7, 2025, from 3:00pm to 7:00pm at The Havens Family North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Ave. North Haven, CT. On Tuesday July 8, 2025, a Catholic funeral service will follow at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home. The interment will take place at All Saints Cemetery 700 Middletown Ave, North Haven, CT immediately following. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Martin's memory to Tunnel to Towers Foundation (http://t2t.org). Martin's legacy of service, devotion to family and love of good company created countless memories that will be treasured by all who knew him. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Martin, please visit our Tree Store.