Patience H. “Pat” Martin, 80, passed away Sept. 7 surrounded by her five loving children. She was born in Brooklyn, New York and, at a young age, moved to Rumson where she lived most of her life. She spent a fair amount of time in Manchester, Vermont skiing with her family and retired to Vero Beach, Florida with her husband Donal. After Vero Beach, she returned to Rumson, “home” for her final journey.
She graduated from Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School as valedictorian, attended Dickinson College in Pennsylvania and studied Shakespeare at Brookdale Community College. Pat was a successful business owner and engaged in volunteer work for most of her adult life. She was proud of her work at the Junior League of Monmouth County which resulted in helping to create Monmouth Arts, a 501(c)3 county art advocacy organization. She also enjoyed her volunteer work for Sandy Hook, the SSYC, Hospice-Vero Beach and as a community ambassador for the Regency. She loved to golf, read, bird-watch, take her children and grandchildren to Broadway plays in New York City, and travel. She also played a smart game of bridge resulting in the life-time bronze achievement award.
Family and friends are what she loved most. She brought family together at every opportunity. Her genealogy work resulted in tracing her family and husband’s family roots back to the 1600s. Upon completing her genealogy work, she hosted sizeable multi-day reunions for both sides of the family in Little Silver.
Pat was humble, a nurturing caretaker, fair and an incredible listener. She faced much adversity with grace, strength and without complaint.
Pat is predeceased by her loving husband Donal J. Martin; her parents, John and Natalie Heermans; her brother Charles Heermans; her grandson Donal J. Martin III; and many more relatives and dear friends.
Surviving are her five children: Julie Gustafson and husband William of Manchester, New Hampshire; Donal J. Martin Jr. and wife Gayle of Cape Elizabeth, Maine; Edward J. Martin and wife Beth of Long Branch; Lee Pugliese of Red Bank; and John Martin of St. Johnsbury, Vermont. She also leaves behind her nine grandchildren: Jessica, Katie, Meghan, Nick, Ed, Torrie, Abby, Mike and Natalie; five great grandchildren: Trey, Lucy, Nora, Molly, Thomas and one due in November; and her brother, John Heermans of Burlington, Vermont; sister Holly Smith of Middletown; and many more friends and relatives.
A memorial gathering will take place at 2 p.m. Oct. 5 at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St., Red Bank. In lieu of flowers, Pat requested that donations be made to Mass General Hospital-Pediatric Stroke Research in honor of one of her great-granddaughters. Checks should be made out to MGH-Pediatric Stroke Research and sent to MGH-Office of Development, 125 Nashua St., Boston, MA, 02114 with a note stating “In Memory of Patience Martin.”
