JERSEY CITY, NJ-- Leo Joseph Martin, born on January 28, 1927 in Jersey City New Jersey entered into his eternal rest on July 29, 2024. He passed at the age of 97. Leo is predeceased by his beloved wife of 66 years, Agnes Martin nee Burke. He was a Police Officer for 25 years in Jersey City; appointed on May 5, 1952 to the 4th precinct. Leo retired from the force as a lieutenant in 1978 and continued to work as an investigator in the Public Defender’s Office until his full retirement in 1992.
Leo is a first generation American, his parents were born in Nova Scotia with his eldest brother. He grew up in the St. Aedan’s section of Jersey City, first living on Communipaw Ave and later moving to Summit Ave. His fondest childhood memory is living above the horse stables and visiting before the school bell. On November 24, 1945, at the age of 17, he reported to Fort Lawton in Washington State enroute to the Pacific Theatre to serve during WWII. He remembers with gratitude how his mother sent him real sheets and an air mattress for his barracks and he took the teasing in stride for the comforts of home. He used to tell his friends and family that he had the most dangerous job during the war, so much so that it required the chaplain’s blessing before proceeding on his mission of escorting all the prostitutes off the base via railway to the end of the line.
Leo and Agnes married on October 9, 1954 at St. Aloysius Church Jersey City and later raised their four daughters, “the Martin girls”, in the Our Lady of Mercy Greenville section of Jersey City where they lived for 35 years. Leo will be most remembered for his wisdom, honesty and integrity and for his gentleness and kindness in dealing with difficult situations or people. Leo had a ridiculously accurate memory for the history of everything and anything, a peculiarity of making confetti out of pantry boxes and an aptitude for made-up swear words. He delighted in the simple pleasures of a newspaper, bud nip, pretzels, crumb cake, and apple pie. He would laugh to the point of choking while watching the Carol Burnett, Barney Miller and the Golden Girls shows.
After the blizzard of 1996, Leo and his beloved Agnes shoveled the car out for the last time and headed for Florida. For the next twenty years they would snow bird between Bonita Isle in Florida and Otter Lake in Pennsylvania until in their mid-eighties they were no longer able to make the trip back and forth. They came back North on the last day of January 2020 to be nearer to their family. Less than two months later the global pandemic shut down the world, so the timing was a blessing.
Leo is predeceased by his parents John and Harriet Martin nee Christopher, his brother, Gerald Martin and sister, Irene DeAngeles. He is survived by his two younger brothers, Vincent and Robert Martin, his four daughters, Colleen Forrester, Karen Soranno, Patricia Martin and Sharon Martin, his son in laws, Donald Forrester, John Soranno, Thomas Richey, his grandchildren, Kaitlyn Toro, Donald Forrester, Christopher Caruso, Leo Forrester, Catherine Forrester, Nicholas Forrester, Michael Forrester, his great granddaughter, Adeline Toro (arriving any day now) and many nieces and nephews.
There will be a funeral mass at St. Vincent de Paul Church, Richboro PA at 11 AM on Thursday, August 8, 2024 followed by interment at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, Newtown, PA.
Please, no flowers. Thank you.
Arrangements for Leo J. Martin through Campbell and Thomas Funeral Home
905 Second Street Pike | Richboro, PA 18954
Thursday, August 8, 2024
11:00 AM Mass at St. Vincent de Paul
654 Hatboro Rd, Richboro, PA 18954
1:00 PM INTERMENT at WASHINGTON CROSSING NATIONAL CEMETERY
830 Highland Road, Newton, Pennsylvania