Obituary of Gordon Edward Patrick Martin

It is with great sadness we announce that Chick, of Brooklyn, passed away on Sunday, March 24, 2024, surrounded by family and his loving wife of 42 years, Dorothy, in the VG Site - QEII Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, at the age of 89. Born in Halifax, he was a son of the late Gordon and Thelma (Wilson) Martin.

Chick attended Oxford and Alexander McKay Schools. In 1951 he joined the Air Force, as a supply tech, having a 25-year career, and obtaining the rank of sergeant. He always said it was the best decision he ever made. School was not his thing; however, he furthered his education in the Air Force.

He loved to hunt and fish but his main interest was sports. He was considered to be a very good hockey player, but fastball was where he was most comfortable. He played for every base team he was stationed at. Beginning at RCAF Station Aylmer, Ontario, then RCAF Station Centralia, Ontario and then Maritime Air Command, Halifax. It was here that he played in the Armed Forces hockey league in 1955 and 1956, at which time games were televised from the Halifax Forum. He considered this to be his greatest hockey experience, playing against great teams like RCAF Station Greenwood, Shearwater Naval / Air Base, Stadacona, Cornwallis Naval Base and Aldershot Army Base.

In 1954, while in Halifax, he played for the Air Force in the intermediate softball league. He won the homerun championships. Next year during a snowstorm, he had a phone call from Oland Brewery asking him if he would play for them in the coming season and permission was granted by the Air Force. Oland Brewery went on to win the Nova Scotia Senior Softball Championships and Chick won the homerun crown.

He was then transferred to RCAF Station Goose Bay, where he won two hockey scoring championships and the homerun crown in two consecutive years.

After three years in Goose Bay, Chick was then transferred to RCAF Station St. Hubert in Montreal. Again, he played fastball and hockey but his first of many knee surgeries made it necessary to stop hockey and maybe ball. He was then transferred to RCAF Station Greenwood. Hockey was out for him but he was able to play fastball.

He was considered to be the longest ball hitter Greenwood ever had. On one occasion he hit a ball over the fence at the ballpark, into the swimming pool in the recreation area.

While at Greenwood the team won the national Air Force championship called the “Bat”. He won the MVP award at this tournament.

Chick always said that he met so many wonderful people in the military and he was blessed to be part of it. Afterward he became a salesperson for Ganong, which he enjoyed doing until his retirement. At one point he was recognized as salesperson of the year, earning a trip to Germany.

Chick was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Hants Community Hospital Foundation, a lifetime member of the Royal Canadian Legion and past member as well as Chair of the Hants County Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and Chair of Friends of Dykeland. In his spare time in later years, he came to enjoy woodworking, carving and painting. Chick was very much a people person and always strived to find the best in everyone. He will be missed by many.  

Chick is survived by wife, Dorothy (Walsh); daughters, Patricia Martin, Linda Smith, Karen (Ross) Richard, Christine Moore; son, Michael (Julie); grandchildren, Natasha (Scott) Stewart, Mark Breen, Amber Breen, Shyla Richard, Luke Richard, Patrick James “PJ”, Anthony Scriver, Justine Knight; 10 great grandchildren; sisters, Carolyn Porter, Patricia Neilson; brother, James “Jimmy” (Mae); daughter-in-law, Claudine Martin; brother-in-law, Bill (Brenda) Walsh; many nieces and nephews; and his darling little fur baby, Bella.

Besides his parents, Chick was predeceased by son, Patrick; granddaughter, Annette; brother, Walter; brothers-in-law, Henry Porter, Bill Neilson; sons-in-law, David Smith and Brian Williams.

Arrangements for cremation have been entrusted to DeMont Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 419 Albert St., Windsor (902-798-8317). A funeral service, followed by a reception, will be held 2 p.m. Friday, April 5 in the Royal Canadian Legion, Hants County Branch No. 009, 35 Empire Lane, Windsor, Rev. Kevin Cox officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Chick may be made to Brooklyn Fire Department, PO Box 136, Newport, NS B0N 2A0 or a charity of one’s choice. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting: www.demontfamilyfuneralhome.ca