Final Salute

NORTH CANAAN – Dr. Donald Terance “Doc” Martin, 86, of North Canaan, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, at his home in North Canaan, which was his last wish.

Dr. Martin was a dentist in Canaan, retiring in 2014. He served the community and their needs whether they could pay or not, and at all hours of the day and night. They do not make men like Don “Doc” Martin anymore.

Born on Aug. 27, 1938 in Walla Walla, Wash., he was the youngest of George T. and Anna Mae (McGrath) Martin’s eight children. Don proudly served in the U.S. Navy with the Seabees during the Vietnam War. He adopted the Seabees’ “Can Do” attitude that served him for the rest of his life. Don married Lynne Horner in 1964.

Don was a 50-year friend of Bill W. He sponsored numerous others through his devotion to Alcoholics Anonymous. When people asked how he managed to stay sober for five decades, he said, “Don’t drink. Go to meetings. And don’t die.” And, “If you’re going to get old, you should do it in the program.”

Don fiercely loved his family, and he embraced his community. Wherever he went, people shouted, “Hi, Doc!” He enthusiastically supported local causes. In the early 1980s, he founded Friends of Football, a booster club for the Housatonic Valley Regional High School’s football team.

He was a regular at Housy athletic events during his children’s years as students there, and continued to support the teams even after his youngest child graduated.

In addition to his loving wife of 60 years, Don is survived by a son, Rick Martin of Canaan, and two daughters, Kelley Marshall and her husband Bill, of Hyde Park, N.Y., and Laura McCarthy and her husband Neil, of Berlin, Conn.

He is also survived by four grandchildren, William Marshall V, Meagan Marshall and her fiance Cameron Jones, Maxim Martin and Meave McCarthy; a special friend, Jeff King; cousins Ann Kaufman, Jay Martin, Kathy Horner, Dan Horner, John Horner, Katherine Edlund; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A memorial service will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, at the North Canaan Congregational Church, 172 Lower Road, East Canaan, with Pastor Mark Brady officiating. The repass will follow from noon to 4 p.m. at the VFW Post No. 6851, 104 S. Canaan Road, Canaan.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Doc Martin should be made to the Fishes & Loaves Food Pantry, P.O. Box 306, North Canaan, CT 06018; or VFW Post No. 6851, P.O. Box 913, Canaan, CT 06018.