Thomas Emerson Martin
1921 – 2009

CUMBERLAND — Thomas Emerson Martin, 87, passed away at home in Cumberland on Aug. 7, after a long illness. His daughters were by his side.

Tom was born in Minot, Oct. 2, 1921, a son of Frederick and Agnes Hersey Martin. He grew up in Minot, went to the Hersey Hill School, a one-room schoolhouse until the eighth grade. He graduated from Edward Little High School in 1939.

He joined the Army Air Corps in World War II. While stationed in Oklahoma City, he married his childhood sweetheart, Alma A. Titus. They were married in 1943 and renewed their vows on their 50th anniversary. They had been married for 60 years when she died in 2003. They had a long and loving marriage and worked side by side on many projects.

He was the builder extraordinaire, while Alma was the decorator and the organizer. Together they designed and built two camps on Forest Lake and renovated a 150-year-old farmhouse in Cumberland, where he lived for 48 years. Perhaps their most interesting collaboration was their work at the Soci Girl Scout Camp on Cousins Island. He actually joined the Girl Scouts in the 1960s, while building much of the camp’s infrastructure.

He was a member of the Cumberland Congregational Church and provided support for the Christmas craft table at the church fair by creating a room in his cellar for Alma and the crafters. He was happiest building. He enjoyed working outside, digging in the garden, mowing the lawn and cutting trees, as long as they weren’t his cultivated Christmas trees. He especially enjoyed hauling loads of debris to the brush dump.

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He loved camping and traveling in his motor home with family and friends. He spent 14 summers at Dummers Beach in Weld. As he grew older he loved the warmth of Florida, and spent 17 winters in Deltona.

He worked for New England Telephone Co. from 1946 to 1983. During strikes, he would leave home and fill in where needed going as far away as New York, for months at a time. He was a company man and as such was proud to be a life member of the Telephone Pioneers.

His unique sense of humor endeared him to several generations of children, who saw his heart of gold beneath the gruff façade. He was known as Papa to many.

He is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Donna and Richard Berry of Augusta and Elizabeth (Liz) and Thomas Reinsborough of Yarmouth; grandchildren, Gregory Berry and his wife, Dara, of Framingham Mass., Andrea Livingston and her husband, Charlie, of Brunswick and Betsey and Mark Reinsborough of Yarmouth; great-grandchildren, Jack, Jocelyne and Genevieve Berry and Christopher and Abigail Livingston; sister, Maxine Clifford; in-laws, Robinetta Mixer, Clarissa and Clifford Damon and Leslie and Jean Titus; and many generations of nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his wife, Alma; his parents; sister, Ruth Remillard; and brother, William Martin.

The family would like to thank Dr. John Erikson and his assistant, Moira for their many years of loving care.


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