Roger Martin Obituary

A Connecticut native, but a long-time Swanzey resident by choice, Dr. Roger E. Martin, 90, Ed.D, passed away on June 15, 2025.

Roger was born in Rockville, CT on June 29, 1934, the only son of Lester and Gladys Risley Martin. He was born on his parents’ 16th wedding anniversary, and that date later also became Roger’s anniversary when he married Judith Wilcox in 1957. Judith and Roger recently celebrated 64 years of married life, until her passing on May 15, 2022.

Roger was a top 10 graduate of Rockville High School, and graduated with honors four years later from Trinity College in Hartford, CT. While in college, Roger worked full time at Pratt & Whitney Research Lab. During that time, the Lab acquired the room-sized IBM 1401, the first mainframe computer, (now in the Smithsonian!), which was housed in the only air-conditioned room in the lab. He later earned two master’s degrees from the University of Hartford, and completed his doctorate at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

He had three distinct business careers, joining General Electric after college, and later The Stanley Works in New Britain, CT. In a switch from Manufacturing to Insurance, his second career was with Aetna Life and Casualty, where he became the youngest corporate officer at the time, in the Accounting and later the Treasurer’s Departments. After moving to New Hampshire, his third career was in education, becoming a faculty member at Keene State College. After teaching Management subjects for 28 years, Roger enjoyed retirement and began volunteering at Cheshire Medical Center. He recently embarked on a new career as a watercolor artist.

Roger enjoyed singing as a hobby, first in a high school chorus and an octet, continuing in the Trinity College Glee Club, where he met his wife-to-be Judith at a joint concert with the Brown University chorus. He sang in church choirs in West Hartford, CT, and in Keene after relocating to New Hampshire. He spent 28 years as a member of the Keene Cheshiremen Barbershop chorus, serving as a Board member and later Treasurer for 27 of those years. He was named Barbershopper of the Year twice. He was a member of Newcaneweng, the Northeastern District Barbershoppers honor society (New York, Canada, and New England) and sang in several local quartets. He also performed for over 100 performances as part of the cast of Swanzey’s Old Homestead play, a former mainstay summer production.

Other hobbies included travel and hiking. Roger was a member of the Adirondack Mountain Club and the Appalachian Mountain Club. He was a long-time member also of the ADK 46ers, having climbed all 46 peaks in the N.Y. Adirondacks over 4,000 feet. He had hiked parts of the Appalachian Trail in CT, MA, VT, NH, and ME. Roger and Judith travelled to most of the states east of the Mississippi River, and to California, Oregon, and Washington states. Foreign travel included trips to Ireland, England, Germany, Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.

Roger is survived by his children Dr. Laurel Brandley and her husband Liam of Swanzey; Heather Drennan of Cape Coral, FL; and son William Bradford Martin of Swanzey; six grandchildren: Elizabeth and Liam Brandley, Patrick Drennan, and Elizabeth, Alesandra, and Andrew Martin, and one great-grandson Bowe Brunkow. He was predeceased by his brothers-in-law David Borthwick, Edward Frisbee, and John Wilcox. He enjoyed close ties with his nieces Carol O’Brien of Kensington, CT and Sarah Valerio of Arizona, and nephews Thomas Prior (Vivian), of Orlando, FL, and William Prior, of Newington, CT, as well as several other nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, and Judith’s two Connecticut sisters, Ann Borthwick and Mary (Polly) Frisbie, and Judy’s brother John Wilcox, formerly of Dummerston, VT.

A memorial service will be held at the First Congregational Church of Swanzey on June 29, 2025, starting at 2pm followed with a reception with food and drinks and continued discussion about Roger’s life impact. The service will also be streamed via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/swanzeyucc

A private family burial service will be held at a later date in August at the Wilcox Cemetery in East Berlin, CT.

If desired, in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Roger’s name to the Mt. Caesar Union Library, 628 Old Homestead Hwy, Swanzey, NH 03446.

The Cremation Society of New Hampshire has been entrusted with arrangements. To view an online tribute, leave a message of condolence or for more information please visit www.csnh.com.