ForeverMissed
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His Life

Harry J. Martin 1930 - 2014

May 1, 2014


Harry Martin worked zealously at whatever he was involved in. And he was involved in nearly everything.

A systems analyst and accountant by profession, Harry also loved to operate a ham radio, tinker with cars and invent devices that would make life easier for others. He once created a pole mechanism to open and close a window out of reach to others and designed an adaptor out of craft sticks to enable arthritic hands to navigate car keys.

Harry was liked and respected, not only for his willingness to help anyone in need, but also because of his devotion to family and friends. When Harry embarked on a "job" or "request" he was committed to its completion. He took enormous pride in any type of work he did and was often heard to say, "I know exactly what needs to be done" or "I'll find a way to fix that problem". Nothing ever kept him from trying to find an answer to a problem. He would just beam with pride when he accomplished his goal. 

Harry died on March 10, 2014, in Santa Clara, California, of complications from polycystic kidney disease (PKD) at age 83. 

Harry Joslin Martin was born on March 24, 1930, in Phoenix, Arizona, a home he shared with his parents, John and Geneva Martin, and his sister, Fran (Martin) Raab. Fran and Harry excelled in school and would compete to see who could earn the highest grades. When Fran proudly came home with an A in Latin, Harry was not impressed. His report card showed his grade was A plus.

After graduating from Riverside High School in Riverside, California, Harry earned a degree in business administration at Chapman College in Orange, California, and continued his business education at the University of California at Los Angeles. He was not only an accomplished student at Chapman; he was also the university’s “unofficial” barber, charging $1 a haircut. The extra money enabled him to take dates to the Gruaman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood.

Harry taught others to cut hair: “Harry showed me how to hold his clippers… Harry was very patient with me and tried very hard to get me to make a proper "swipe" with the clippers, says lifelong friend Skip Thomas. When I was ready to "solo" he presented me with a set of clippers, a comb, and a pair of German scissors, which I still use. He was a remarkably special man. I sorely miss him.”

In 1953, he married Betty Jo Immel. They had three children during their 17-year marriage – Ann Martin-Mildenhall and Curtis and Glen Martin. As a family, they enjoyed hiking, road trips and fishing. They lived in Orange and Sacramento California and Denver Colorado.

Harry put his accounting and business skills to use at several jobs over his 48-year career. He served as Accounting Manager for the Disciples of Christ in the Northern California Regional Office (1961-63), and as Accounting Manager at Chapman College in Orange California during the academic year of 1963-64. But his longest stint was as systems analyst for Safeway in the San Francisco Bay Area.

In 1971, Harry married Terry Orloff in Oakland, California, and during their 43-year marriage, they were parents to three children and four stepchildren. Terry and Harry were also foster parents to teenage girls for five years.

In the early 1970s, Harry took a computer programming class at a community college that allowed him how to work in the computer lab at Stanford University on a system called Orville and Wilbur. Although he usually used dial-up, one night Harry decided to go to Stanford to see what it was really like to work in a computer lab. On the one night Terry went with him to the lab, they arrived to find that the computer system was down. A sign read: “Orville & Wilbur are dead.”

Besides his long accomplished career in business, Harry also volunteered for many organizations, including Parental Stress Service of the East Bay, Eden Medical Center’s Geriatric Services, CommuniCall and the Alameda Blood Bank. Harry continued to donate blood into his 70s.

He was an avid San Francisco 49ers fan, and also cheered for Navy. He almost canceled a Saturday dialysis training appointment because Navy was playing. Terry convinced him that he could record the game and they could watch it later.

Harry liked to cook and even introduced Terry to more experimental food choices, but they also enjoyed making traditional root beer floats together. They also enjoyed listening to music together. Harry loved organ music and classical arrangements, but also liked to hear Neil Diamond and the Beach Boys’ recording of “Surfing U.S.A.”

Besides his wife, Terry Martin, Harry is survived by his children Ann and husband Ron Mildenhall; Curtis and wife Sanae; Glen and wife Pamela; stepchildren: Dan Orloff and wife Sherené; Randy Orloff; Mike Orloff and wife Julie; grandchildren Audrey Martin; Jeff Kilian; Kevin Kilian; Kaitlin Kilian; Casey Neill; Hillary Neill; Benjamin Orloff and wife JoEllen Rose; Nathan Orloff and fiancé Robyn Buchanan; Travis Orloff; great-grandchildren Ella Orloff and Natasha Orloff; and sister Fran Martin-Raab. He is predeceased by his former wife Betty Jo Martin; parents John and Geneva Martin; stepson Barry Orloff; and, pets Jessie, Jake, Virgil, and Joey.

Donations in Harry name can be made to Hope Services, Hope provides services to people with developmental disabilities in the greater Bay Area. www.hopeservices.org. Please send donations to: Hope Services, 30 Las Colinas Ln., San Jose, CA 95119-1212