Page 32 - Forum-2021-JanToMarch

ISASI

107 E. Holly Ave., Suite 11
Sterling, VA 20164-5405 USA

INCORPORATED AUGUST 31, 1964
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

IN MEMORIAM: ESPERISON “MARTY” MARTINEZ

sperison Martinez, Jr., 86, of Annap- for lunch. were full of great airline articles, of which
olis, Maryland, died on Wednesday, “Having established himself as a talent- Marty wrote many or edited all of them.
Nov. 4, 2020. He was born in Dodge ed and highly regarded journalist during “Marty came to ISASI as the managing
ECity, Kansas, on Nov. 15, 1933, and his military career, Esperison next wrote editor of ISASI Forum. The original Forum
raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. Marty’s for the Air Line Pilots Association mag- had a heavy blue paper cover. With the
family collectively prepared this published azine for 22 years, serving ultimately as January–March 1997 issue, Marty trans-
formed Forum into a ‘first class’ publi-
editor-in-chief. After a second retirement,
obituary: his passion for his profession propelled cation. I continually receive accolades
“Cherished for his endless words of him into a third career, working as editor attesting to the quality of the magazine.
wisdom, life lessons, and continuous of the International Society of Air Safety Marty’s ability to write was outstanding.
loving support, he was always the chief Investigators’ journal for 20 years, in addi- His writing was easy to read, but always
family advocate, protector, and champion. tion to contributing to various community technically correct. He obviously passed
He was happiest when gathered together newsletters. Perhaps most importantly, he this ability on to his family, as seen in the
with family and relished lively conversa- passed along his wisdom and expertise by obituary that his children and grandchil-
tion and meals together. Family, he said, serving as chief editor of school papers, dren wrote.
was the most important thing in life, and presentations, and college applications for “As the years rolled by, Marty and his
he lived true to that value, never missing his adoring grandchildren.” wife, Gladys, became good friends with
a recital, graduation, or school perfor- A private family burial was held at my wife and myself. After the Munich,
mance. He will forever be remembered Crownsville Maryland Veterans Cemetery Germany, seminar in 2015, the four of us
as the world’s best husband, father, and with a celebration of life to follow this traveled to surrounding European
grampy. summer. countries, and we enjoyed their company
“Known as Marty in the military and ISASI President Frank Del Gandio at all ISASI events. Marty retired as Forum
throughout his professional career, he relected on the “passing of a great friend”: editor in 2016. He continued to partici-
served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force, “I first met Marty in 1995, when I was the pate until recently in the Society’s
retiring from a 20-year military career as ISASI secretary. Then ISASI president, communica-
chief master sergeant in 1971 after serving Richard Stone, brought him to ISASI when tions as the
honorably in Germany and Thailand. Marty retired from ALPA. Until that time, editor of ISASI
During his military service, he served as a I did not realize that Marty had been part Update. Marty
writer for the official Air Force magazine, of my life for the preceding 30–35 years. was a great
Airman, and as superintendent of the I enlisted in the military in 1963, and coworker and
U.S. Armed Forces Radio and Television my favorite publication was Airman, the a dear friend.
Network Thailand. He was fortunate to official magazine of the U.S. Air Force. I The entire
take his young family with him overseas, thoroughly enjoyed the articles that were ISASI organi-
creating many beautiful memories dur- all written or edited by Marty. When I zation sends
ing his years in Germany and returned started working for the FAA as an inspec- our prayers to
there many years later with his expanded tor in 1974, one of my fellow workers was Gladys and the
family for a memorable trip that included a furloughed airline pilot. He always gave entire Martin-
a grampy-executed ‘quick trip’ to Venice me his ALPA magazines. The magazines ez family.”
32 • January-March 2021 ISASI Forum