For those who knew her well, you know Martha was one-of-a-kind, a gentle and kind-hearted person who loved life. Martha loved people and cherished the relationships she made. She was so friendly, welcoming and open minded. She never passed a person without saying hello or sharing a smile. She always saw the good in people and the positive side of every situation. Martha’s nature was to always look for and find the goodness in people's heart. She treated people the way she wanted to be treated - with kindness and respect. She loved making friends, cultivating her friendships, and keeping in touch throughout the years with a visit, a phone call or with a note in the mail.
Among her many loves were both nature and traveling. She had such an appreciation for nature - trees, plants, mountains - every part of nature. She donated to help the earth and was always doing her part to help our planet. Her green thumb was unmatched, she could take care of any plant or cactus. She was able to nurture and help any living plant thrive. That is a testament to who she was. She was loving and nurturing and helped everyone she knew. Martha and Chaitan loved exploring together. They loved discovering new places, seeing new things and of course, Martha loved meeting new people. Huell Howser (one of her favorites) was often an inspiration for new places to visit. Trips to Arizona to visit Ravi, San Fransisco trips to visit Hans and trips to Redondo Beach to visit Vic, Nicole and Jay were always on the list.
Most of all, Martha deeply loved her family. She met her husband, Chaitan in New York in 1964 on the subway. That subway is where their love story began. They had three sons: Hans, Ravi and Vikram. On top of all of life’s goals, as a mother, Martha wanted her children to be happy. She was so proud of them and loved being a part of their lives. She would listen to stories about daily life and no matter the topic, you knew she was listening and would follow up with a thoughtful gift or article related the conversation.
One of the most special qualities about Martha was her love of children. After she retired, she spent over 15 years translating for the school district, specifically for special needs children (where English wasn’t the primary language). She not only translated for them and helped them navigate to get the care they needed, she became a true friend and advocate for these children and families. She took a special interest in their lives and became close friends, attending family functions and celebrations. She gave her time and love to all the children she worked with. Apart from being an amazing mother to her three boys, it was no surprise that she would relish in her newest role as grandmother to Jay. She doted on him and loved him with all her heart. Together, they shared a special bond. Just like with her students, she was patient, loving, played the role of listener, teacher and caretaker. He brought her joy and happiness with just one look. They are so lucky to have had each other.
