The Funeral Mass for Ronald Martin will be live streamed at 10am on Thursday, March 10 Click Here
MARTIN, Ronald Charles of Ocean Reef, Florida, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and North Falmouth, Massachusetts passed away Thursday, March 3, 2022 in Miami, Florida. Ron leaves his wife, Melba Hardy Martin, late wife Sharon Crowley Martin, son Chuck Martin and his wife Kristen of Winchester, daughter Elizabeth Fideli and husband Bill of Hingham, and daughter Susan Mitchell and husband Chris Mitchell of Needham. He also leaves thirteen grandchildren Kaitlin, Brady, Bridget, Ryan and Dylan Martin; Ellen, Claire, Mary and William Fideli; and Thomas, Patrick, Annie and Grace Mitchell; stepdaughter the Hon. Paige Gillman Kilbane of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and stepgrandchildren Emery and Tucker Gillman.
Born and raised in Milford, Massachusetts, son of the late William and Olga Martin, he sadly lost his only brother, Billy, at a young age due to illness. He otherwise had a happy childhood, enjoying football, hunting and fishing, and surrounded by his mother’s extended family, the Speronis. The Martins and Speronis shared a love of Italian food and cooking which Ron carried with him throughout his life.
A graduate of Milford High School, he attended Boston College where he earned an undergraduate and Masters’ degree in business. After graduation he embarked on a long, successful career as a CPA, the majority of which was spent at Ernst and Young, where he eventually earned the title of Partner. His love of all things accounting, with a borderline obsession on tax, remained a passion throughout his life, and he was quick to share as much detail as anybody would have the patience and kindness to listen. His final professional position was at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, where he worked in financial controls until his retirement.
Ron met Sharon Crowley, his wife of 37 years, during summers in Cape Cod. They married in 1969 and settled in Wayland. Sharry and their three young children relocated several times as Ron was building his career, first to Cape Elizabeth, Maine and later to Skaneateles, New York, before ultimately returning to Wellesley to be closer to their extended families. He and Sharry loved supporting their children from the sidelines of countless athletic games at Wellesley Middle and High School, from which they all graduated.
He and Sharry spent summers in the Cape Cod village of Megansett in North Falmouth. Ron’s heart belonged to Megansett, where he was surrounded by family, lifelong friends, and all of the outdoor activities he so loved. Whether enjoying steak dinners on the deck of Megansett Yacht Club, golfing at Pocasset, fishing in Buzzards Bay, or spending time in his trademark spot on the porch regaling friends with a scotch and a cigar, he was quick to comment “that was the best day of my life”…. almost every day.
In the summer of 2007 Sharry lost her battle with Melanoma. Despite the devastating loss, Ron was inspired by the incredible innovation occurring in melanoma treatment, and subsequent improvement in clinical outcomes, and established the Sharon Crowley Martin Fund for Melanoma Research at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Supporting melanoma research remained a primary focus for the rest of his life.
In subsequent years Ron spent the majority of his time between Megansett and The Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, FL, where he later met, and developed a wonderful friendship with, Melba Hardy. His time with Melba enabled him to rediscover happiness, and the friendship deepened, with the two eventually marrying in 2012. Melba was an amazing partner who shared many of his same passions. She became an integral part of the extended Martin family – to his children and grandchildren alike – as have Melba’s daughter Paige and her two children, Emery and Tucker. Ron and Melba split their time between Florida and Massachusetts, all the while enjoying traveling, spending time with friends and family, hunting, and most of all, fishing. He never missed a fall Boston College football game, a hunting trip to South Dakota, the two traveled the coast of the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico sport fishing on their boat “Toast”, which provided many adventures, new friends, and fond memories.
Ron lived life to the fullest and will be missed dearly.
Visiting hours will be held at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home 477 Washington St. (Rt. 16) WELLESLEY on Wednesday, March 9th from 4-8pm. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Ignatius of Loyola Church, 28 Commonwealth Ave. Chestnut Hill on Thursday, March 10th at 10am. Relatives and friends kindly kindly invited. Interment private.
In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to the Martin, Fideli, Mitchell Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West, Brookline, MA 02445 or on-line at: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Check the box labeled “My Gift is in Honor or Memory of Someone” - Ronald Martin
The Funeral Mass for Ronald Martin will be live streamed at 10am on Thursday, March 10 Click Here