Robert R. Martin 1942 - 2005

  
(I've gone Home) 
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Eulogy
Robert Revere "Bob" Martin
June 11, 2005,
Order of The Arrow Council Ring, Camp Karankawa
By John Thurston, Council President

Over the past 16 years as Scout Executive of this council, I have… and Scouting has… had a constant friend and mentor. I have seen Bob Martin serve in nearly every role and position one could hold in Scouting from Cub Scout Leader to Council Commissioner.

I was impressed to know and have a successful businessman and community leader as a partner in Scouting and it wasn't long before our common bond in Scouting became a friendship. I am sure this is true for you as well. Bob made friends easily.

When Bob became the president of the Board of Realtors, I was honored to be the luncheon speaker at his instillation. Do you know what Bob was up to with that request? Even in this prestigious community leadership role he saw it as an opportunity to promote Scouting and traditional family values.
 
The loss of my friend has been painful, yet also strangely reaffirming because it has made me ever more aware of the rewards of friendships. Perhaps the most memorable words I will recall from Bob were these: "What can I do to help you!" Nearly every time we spoke, somewhere in the conversation he said "Is there anything I can do to help you today?"
 
Bob's core accomplishment was family. And, as his only child, Todd was the lucky beneficiary of a real study in good fatherhood. Bob poured vast amounts of love, energy and most importantly time into him during his most formative years. From Todd's earliest days, Bob took his hand in his and they discovered the world together. Bob took time with Todd and they did things together… and because it often involved Scouting and other group activities, countless other young people were mentored by him as well.
 
What an example and what a legacy Bob leaves us… a curiosity about life, a hunger for knowledge, a passion for the outdoors, an example of a life whose riches owe little to money, a sense that anything is possible if you work hard, a model of what a father, husband and a good friend should be. Those are great gifts.
 
Just a short time ago I spoke at Todd Martin's memorial celebration. I spoke of campfires shared… and how they have played such an important role in facilitating thoughtful conversation… and of how they link us to all of humanity before us. We represent the first generations where television has replaced the fire as a gathering place… and I believe that if we don't occasionally gather at the fire, we will come to regret that change. In Scouting... we will always have campfires! And henceforth… the few coals, we will gather up following this fire, will be mixed with every council fire that follows in this place.
 
I would like to share a reading with you… but first you should know how it was selected. When Bob's dear friend Charles Doraine called me on my cell phone on Tuesday last week, he asked if we could talk privately. As I walked to a quiet place in the restaurant, I felt a foreboding… and then I learned that Bob had died of a broken heart.
 
My first thought before I went back to my booth to excuse myself was… "Another Broken Paddle." I was thinking of a passage from a favorite book I read in my youth. It's one of those books you read and re-read. It's about the Boundary Waters and the author, Sigurd F. Olson, has captured precisely what that area means to all who have visited and fallen in love and under the spell of a most unique place.
 
Bob made a trip to the BSA canoe base near Ely, Minnesota with the Scouts a few years back… and was, much to my delight, quite taken with the place for it gave us another common experience and further tightened our bond. There were many future discussions of a place we both loved. He was taken to the extent that he even joined the Charles L. Sommers Alumni Association.
 
The passage that came to mind is about a broken paddle and it clearly describes my thought and feelings for Bob at this time. Because of Bob's devotion to... and love for the Order of the Arrow and the fact that he was an accomplished archer, perhaps you will do as I have and also think of a broken arrow along with the paddle as a symbol of his passing.
 
This is from "Listening Point" by Sigurd F. Olson
 
"Paddles mean many things to those who know the hinterlands of the north. They are symbolic of a way of life and of the deep feeling of all voyageurs for the lake and river country they have known. Some time ago I received an envelope bordered in black, one of those old-fashioned conventional letters of mourning which today are no longer used. I glanced at the date and address, tried hard to remember from whom it might be. With hesitation and foreboding, I tore open the seal. Inside was a simple card edged in black and across the face of it the sketch of a broken paddle. In the lower corner was the name.
 
The significance of this death announcement struck me like a blow. The paddle was broken and my friend who had been with me down the wilderness lakes of the border regions on many trips had cached his outfit forever. That broken blade meant more than a thousand words of eulogy, said far more than words could ever convey. It told of the years that had gone into all of his expeditions, of campsites and waterways. In its simple tribute were memories of the rushing thunder of rapids, the crash of waves against cliffs, of nights when the loons called madly and mornings when the wilds were sparkling with dew. It told of comradeship and meetings on the trail, of long talks in front of campfires and the smell of them, of pine and muskeg and the song of whitethroats and hermit thrushes at dusk.
 
I know now, thinking of the broken paddle and what it really meant, that if a man in the course of time can so identify himself with a way of life that when he goes it is not just another passing, then he has achieved a lasting place in the memories of his fellows, a bond they will cherish forever. The broken paddle was an insignia forged in the wilds, of loyalty not only of men to each other but devotion to lasting and eternal things."
 
Please pray with me.
 
Eternal God, we trust that you have received Bob with open and loving arms… and that his faith is fulfilled. Bring your loving grace and power to bear on the sad hearts left by your servant, Bob. Help us to understand this loss and give us the courage and strength to continue working towards that which would please you.
 
Amen
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Eulogy by:  Charles W. Zahn, Jr. - South Texas Council,  Board Chairman

On behalf of Evie, I would like to thank each of you for your calls, your notes and letters, your visits, and your expressions of concern, all shown or given during this extremely difficult time the past several weeks. More than that though, I want to thank you for your thoughts and prayers for Evie. I can assure you that these outward expressions have been a source of comfort for her as she begins the long healing process.
  
We live in a country where we see and are guided by symbols in all we do. It might be the Ram on the hood of my Dodge truck or the check-mark on a pair of Nike shoes or on a shirt. It might be the golden arches at a McDonalds or the star at a Texaco Service station. You see we recognize products and services by their logo or symbol. There were several items that Bob had with him when he passed away last week that spoke volumes about Bob and his life. You see to me these items were symbols of Bob's life here on Earth. I would like to spend a few minutes this evening talking to you about them and how they are symbolic of this life that we memorialize here tonight.
  
The first item that Bob had with him when he passed away was a picture of Bob with his son, Todd. This picture to me symbolized Bob and his family. Anyone that knew Bob knew that he had a great love for family and in particular his wife of 36 years Evie and their recently departed son, Todd. Bob's whole life revolved around this family. The love and affection that Bob had for his family was evident in everything that Bob said and did. But this family was not the only family that Bob had. You see Evie allowed Bob to develop a relationship with other families such as his Scouting family and his Church family. Bob believed that the interaction of family is one of the most important things that we do.
  
Another item that Bob had with him when he passed away was a knitted cross. This cross, as it is to most of us, was a symbol of Bob's deep-rooted belief in his Church and in his God. Bob lived his life in accordance with the teachings of his God and was an example of the standards that one possesses who has a strong belief in God. Bob loved the outdoors. He loved to hike, to camp and to hunt. He believed that God created this land and in doing so gave him the opportunity to participate in these activities that he loved so much, not only with his son, but with many others as well.
  
Another item that Bob had with him when he passed away was an American flag. Bob loved his country and the flag was a symbol of his love for this country and the freedoms that are guaranteed to each one of us who live here. Bob loved politics and was quick and easy to engage in conversation about those items that affected him. Bob believed that the United States of America is the greatest nation in the world and that to live in and serve this Country was one of the great privileges each one of us have. He also loved the community he lived in and was active in this community with his business enterprises as well as the many civic organizations he belonged to.
  
The last item that Bob had with him when he passed away was a feather. Not just any feather, but an Eagle feather. This item was also a symbol of Bob's life and this part of his life probably had the greatest impact on others. Bob had the opportunity to touch and influence the lives of 100's of young men and their families as he served the Coastal Bend in various capacities as a member of the South Texas Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Bob spent many nights and weekends camping and hiking with young Scouts and their families as a Scoutmaster and then as the Advisor for the Karankawa Lodge of the Order of the Arrow, an honor camping unit in the Boy Scouts. Bob also served as a member of the Executive Board of the South Texas Council for many years and was the Council Commissioner at the time of his death. Bob's commitment to Scouting was longstanding and deep. I had the honor of watching him and John Thurston both honored in February for 50 years of service to Scouting, an honor I had received just three years before.
  
Bob was a friend. He was an advisor that I consulted with often. He was a colleague and also a client. I had the occasion to work with Bob during the bad times in the 80's and the good times of the 90's and 2000's and even got him out of a few legal jams along the way. I served with Bob in numerous capacities in Scouting here in the Coastal Bend and grieved with he and Evie when they lost their son Todd this past February. I know from these experiences that Bob was a good man and that his loss is one that affects each one of us in varying ways. The biggest loser though will be the youth of this community. There is a saying I've read many times written anonymously that probably describes how I view Bob's impact on the youth of our community. It reads
  
"A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove…..but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child."
We all know that our world will be different because Bob was important in the lives of so many young people in our community.
  
Each time I called Bob he would recognize my number on the caller ID on his cell phone and answer "Hello Friend Charlie". Each time he hung up or when we departed after a meeting he would say "Goodbye…. and thanks Friend Charlie". I will always cherish the moments and experiences we had over the last 30 years and would like to conclude my remarks by saying
  
"Goodbye and thanks for the memories Friend Bob."

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Obituary - Corpus Christi Caller Times
 
Robert Revere "Bob" Martin
 
Robert Revere "Bob" Martin born September 12, 1942 in East Orange, New Jersey, died May 31, 2005 in Corpus Christi, Texas at the age of 62. Bob came to Corpus Christi in 1965 to attend the University of Corpus Christi (UCC). It was at UCC that Bob met and married his loving wife of thirty-six years, Evie, from Bangor, Maine, who was attending UCC as freshman. Upon graduation, they chose to make Corpus Christi their home. An entrepreneur, realtor, civic leader and owner of Nitram Business Consulting, Bob was recognized as a self-motivated, people-oriented, family focused businessman who enthusiastically shared his creativity and business expertise with countless community organizations, charities and churches.

Bob will be remembered for his love of camping, hunting, fishing and scouting that he shared with his beloved son, Todd. His dedication and devotion to The South Texas Council of Boy Scouts of America gave him the opportunity to touch the lives of many young men and their families both in the Coastal Bend and throughout the nation as he and Todd, both Eagle Scouts, traveled to scouting destinations across the United States. He served in numerous capacities with the South Texas Council of Boy Scouts of America coordinating numerous fund raising efforts, serving as a Troop and Order of the Arrow Advisor, as well as presiding as Council Commissioner and Chairman.

Known for his winning smile, warm personality, passionate dedication to his community and charming ability to successfully raise funds for Coastal Bend charities, Bob shared his talents with the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce, American Heart Association, Multiple Sclerosis Association, United Way, Loaves and Fishes, Cerebral Palsy Association and St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church. He also maintained memberships in the Art Museum of South Texas, Mid-Western Fraternity Association, Southside Rotary Club, USS Lexington Association, Gulf Coast Area Conservation, Antique Auto Club Texas Association, Corpus Christi Ballet, Texas Association of Realtors, Optimist Club, Fraternity Executives Association, Naval Air Station Skeet Association, Texas State Aquarium Association, National Rifle Association, Ducks Unlimited, National Sales and Marketing Association, National Association of Realtors, Corpus Christi Board of Realtors, Austin Healey Club of America and Texas A&M Alumni Association.

As a business man, Bob became familiar with all aspects of the real estate industry as a mortgage banker, real estate office manager, custom home builder, investor, property manager, real estate company president/chairman of the board, and as a residential real estate brokerage consultant. He was the former President and Manager of Blue Chip Builders Wiser Homes, a former owner and partner of the Corpus Christi Athletic Club, and President/Chairman of the Board of Coldwell Banker Martin Realtors.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents James Dorsett Martin and Gertrude Childs Martin and his son James Todd Martin.  Survivors include his wife, Evelyn M. Martin of Corpus Christi, Texas, a brother, Douglas Martin of Upper Montclair, New Jersey, his mother-in-law, Sonja Bernier of Bangor, Maine and sister-in-law, Rose Roberts (Glen) of Ebeemee, Maine.

A sunset memorial gathering and campfire is planned for Saturday, June 11, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. at South Texas Council of Boy Scouts Camp Karankawa in Mathis, Texas.

Memorial gifts may be made to the South Texas Children's Home in Beeville, Texas or the South Texas Council Boy Scouts of America.

This obituary will be online till 08/03/2005.
[Extend by 5 years.]