ALTAMONT — Raymond J. Martin, a devoted family man who loved history and designed armories, died peacefully on Thursday, March 30, 2017. He was 89.

He was born in Albany, on Dec. 14, 1927 and grew up on Orange Street in the city. His mother worked as a telephone operator and his father was a railroad worker.

After Mr. Martin married, he moved to Altamont in 1959. He and his wife of 57 years, Rose (née Femia), moved several houses down from the home where she grew up. They lived in a Cape Cod-style house on Altamont Boulevard where they raised their son and two daughters.

“It was small,” said his daughter Diane Scott of the house.

His daughter Lisa Scholz recalled his large garden. “There were plenty of vegetables for the family to enjoy and also tall sunflowers that many people from Altamont will remember,” she said.  

The family was close, both physically and emotionally. “We traveled cross-country with our trailer, stopping in every state from here to the Mississippi,” said Ms. Scott. To this day, she recalls the sights she saw at Gettysburg, Williamsburg, St. Louis and Niagara Falls.

“He loved history and knew about everything,” she said of her father.

Mr. Martin worked for the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs, retiring in 1984. “He was in the logistics unit,” said Ms. Scott. “He oversaw all of the armories around the state, which required him to travel a lot when we were little.”

Although a hardworking man, Mr. Martin was always home for Mass, which he attended with his family on Saturday evening at St. Lucy’s Church in Altamont.

In 2007, Mr. and Mrs. Martin moved to Guilderland, to be closer to the YMCA, the Elks, grocery stores, and the airport where they volunteered. At that time, they joined Christ the King Church in Guilderland.

“Every Sunday, we went over to the house with all the grandkids,” said Ms. Scott. Mr. Martin’s family introduced him to the Kindle as Mr. Martin was an avid reader. His son Mark Martin recalls, “He thought it was the best invention ever and had close to a thousand books on it.”

“He was a good husband, father, and grandfather,” concluded Ms. Scott. “He had a good sense of humor and he truly loved life.”

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Raymond J. Martin is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Rose Martin; by his children, Diane M. Scott, Lisa M. Scholz and her husband, Chris, and Mark A. Martin and his wife, Patty; by his grandchildren, Danielle M. Martin, Alissa M. Pinkowski and her husband, Chris, Emily J. Scholz, and Kyle M. Martin; by his sister, Mary A. Femia and her husband, Fiore; and by several loving nieces and nephews.

His parents died before him as did his brother, Thomas Martin.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, April 1, at Christ the King Church in Guilderland with interment following at Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Albany. Arrangements were by Newcomer Funeral Home, and mourners may leave online messages for the family at www.newcomeralbany.com.

— Melissa Hale-Spencer