Lee Martin

Lee Ellsworth Martin died peacefully in Frederick Memorial Hospital on Monday, May 16, 2016 in Frederick, Maryland at the age of 82.

Lee was born July 14, 1933 in Detroit, Michigan to Viberta (Moore) and Harry Emerson Martin, Sr. He grew up in the small town of Bancroft, Michigan and graduated from Durand High School in 1951; and then with high honors from Michigan State in 1955 with a degree in political science. Lee was in ROTC at MSU and received a regular Army commission. The Army granted him permission to accept a Fulbright Scholarship to study foreign relations in France, where he made many lifelong friends. However, a motorbike accident in Grenoble caused him to change his plans for a military career. He came to Washington, D.C. in 1956 and began his career as an intelligence analyst, serving with both the CIA and the Department of Energy. His postings included Cyprus, France, and Vietnam. He also worked for the George Washington University Graduate School of Continuing Education and the organization High Frontier.

He married Judy in 1958, and the couple welcomed four children who remember him as a good father who encouraged them to pursue their goals. He was a family man who found his greatest satisfaction in having his family around him.

After the fall of Saigon, he sponsored two pairs of Vietnamese refugees in his home. He also worked to find homes and jobs for other Vietnamese refugee families.

Lee retired from the Department of Energy in 1996, dividing his time between his home in Frederick and his cottage on Green Lake in Interlochen, Michigan.

Lee was accomplished at writing light verse and often wrote poetry for family occasions, something he inherited from his famous great grandmother, Julia A. Moore. He was a fine bass and sang with his high school, college and church choirs. He remained interested in domestic and international politics, which sometimes allowed for lively conversations. He was a big fan of the Detroit Tigers and Michigan State football. He was ordained an Elder of the PC(USA),and was active in Presbyterian churches in Georgetown, Rockville, Traverse City and Frederick. He never met a stranger and was often the first to welcome new visitors to church. He volunteered at Rainbow Place, a woman's shelter at Rockville Presbyterian Church, the Frederick Rescue Mission and the Religious Coalition Cold Weather Shelter.

Lee is survived by his wife of 57 years, Judith; children Thomas, George (Jeff), Julia (Betsy) Jacunski (Matt), and Sarah Lampert (Ken); grandchildren Hanna, Charlotte and Phillip Jacunski, Zach and Ted Lampert, and Katie Kessler; great-grandchildren Nate and Finn Lampert and Caroline and Charlie Kessler; nieces Sharon Wahl and Nancy Martin and nephew Jay Martin; and special friends Louise Van Gilder Martin and Joanne Sten. He is preceded in death by his brother, Harry Emerson Martin, Jr.

A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m., Saturday, June 11 at Frederick Presbyterian Church, with a reception to follow in the Fellowship Hall. At a later date Lee’s ashes will be interred next to his parents in Liberty Cemetery in Liberty Township, near Manton, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Frederick Presbyterian Church at 115 W. 2 nd Street, Frederick, Maryland 21701, the Frederick Rescue Mission at 419 W. South Street, Frederick, Maryland 21701, and the Presbyterian Church of Traverse City at 701 Westminster Road, Traverse City, Michigan 49686. Condolences may be sent to the Keeney and Basford Funeral Home at www.keeneybasford.com. The family would like to thank the Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services and the staff at Frederick Memorial Hospital for their care.