Martin Sekulic Obituary

Sekulic III

Martin "Marty" Francis

Sekulic III

October 16, 1948

September 29, 2021



Martin Francis Sekulic III passed from this earthly world on September 29, 2021, after a month-long illness centered around a traumatic brain bleed and ultimately a massive stroke.

Marty was born on October 16, 1948, in Chicago, Illinois to immigrant parents Martha Genevieve Kurowski Sekulic and Martin Francis Sekulic Sr. He was a first generation born American of Yugoslavian heritage. Marty was an only child. Both of Marty's parents have predeceased him by over thirty-five years.

The Sekulic family moved to Colorado Springs in 1953. Marty attended Corpus Christi Catholic Elementary School, he then spent his junior high years attending The Holy Cross Abby School in Canon City, Colorado. Marty graduated from Saint Mary's High School in 1966 in Colorado Springs. Then he attended and graduated from the University of Colorado in 1975 with a bachelor's degree in English Literature.

Marty later studied Opticanry and received certificates in Optics and was registered as a certified optician with the National Academy of Opticianry for over thirty years and was listed with The American Board of Opticianry. He continued a path toward being a Doctor of Optometry at University of Arizona until his mother's death when he dropped out of school and returned to Colorado to care for his father. Marty's interest in optometry was spurred by having a diagnosis of keratoconus and receiving a corneal transplant at age 21 thus improving his failing eyesight. Marty's Catholic up bringing and background influenced his life, and his faith grew stronger in the last few years, as he began attending mass weekly.

Marty had many other talents and interests. Most people knew him as a "car guy". He restored more than 50 old cars throughout his life, most rebuilt from the ground up, including engines. These cars included 1960s Jaguars and Corvettes, a Thunderbolt, and many 1940's and 1950's vintage Mercuries and Fords and lots more. Most recently was a 1953 Mercury sedan, an Austin Healey, and a 1949 Ford that he envisioned to be his car to drag race again. Professional drag racing (and winning) is one of his many past accomplishments. Now we hope he can drag race and build motors and cars in the sky.

Marty collected car magazines, he has probably thousands dating as far back as his first one purchased in 1956. He read and reread these magazines many times and was able to remember the information and retrieve the magazine with that article of information from his many, many stacks when a certain subject came up. Marty loved to read. This love of the written word included history and politics, and reading his favorite authors such as John Grisham, James Lee Burke, Steven King, plus the daily newspapers. Marty was a master builder of model car kits and used his knowledge of car culture and car structure to create an artistic product of more than 60 models.

Marty loved to travel, and he loved to party, and he loved to drink. He made a "pilgrimage" to Mardi Gras in New Orleans at least 9 times and took many friends on road trips to NOLA and Florida. He loved Key West, the ocean, the sun and the southern USA. Marty loved animals and birds. He had several squirrel pals over the years that visited him daily and would follow him around in the yard. He had numerous feline friends, and 2 special dogs in his life just recently, Lizzi and Max. Marty also loved to garden and grew flowers and vegetables and created lovely water features in the backyard.

Marty leaves behind many good buddies and treasured friends, all of whom he loved. Marty was definitely a ladies' man; he loved the women and thus has left behind many old sweethearts and broken hearts. His most recent girlfriend, sweetheart and best friend is Peggy Harrell who survives, they lived together 18 years and had been friends for 56 years.

Per Martin's request, after death he was a tissue donor through Donor Alliance and has been cremated with arrangements by Alternative Cremation Services.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his name to the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, 610 Abbott Lane, Colorado Springs, CO 80905; or to Donor Alliance, 200 Spruce Street, Denver, CO 80230.

A celebration of life and memorial will be held at a future date.