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Kenneth George Martin   March 16, 1931-June 9, 2018


Ken Martin peacefully passed away in Castro Valley on June 9, 2018.  Ken Martin was born March 16, 1931 at Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley to George Martin and Adele Damico.  


Ken spent his young and teen years living in Albany and Oakland, graduating from Fremont High School in 1947 and then off to college to San Luis Obispo to study architecture at California State Polytechnic College.  Not satisfied with architecture, Ken started an apprenticeship as an automobile mechanic and in 1952 he was drafted by the Army and spent two years in Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.  While on leave he returned home and married the love of his life Pricilla (Patty ) Edelstein.  In April they celebrated 65 wonderful years of marriage.  

Ken started out in the work world an auto mechanic, but eventually retired from The Xerox Corporation in 1994.  Ken had a passion for building things and anything that moved, he spent years building model airplanes, R/C model cars, and model trains. One of his greatest passions was racing cars on the dirt tracks of California, Oregon, and Nevada until two fairly serious injuries sidelined him and caused him to retire in 1966.  Unable to stay away from things that move, he then acquired sailboats and sailed on the SF Bay and Delta area for several years.  A passionate hobbyist, he became involved with garden railroads, The Alfa Romeo Association, and bocce ball.  Ken, had a huge heart for the community he lived in and Chaired many events such as the Oakland Hobby Show, the San Leandro Cherry Festival, and The Livermore Air show.  He also sponsored fund raisers for people in need and local organizations. In 2015, the Hayward Recreation Department recognized his contributions to the Castro Valley community by naming the bocce ball courts (which he helped to install) at Adobe Park in his honor, The Ken Martin Bocce Courts.  This was one of his proudest and greatest achievements.  

He is survived by his loving wife and their four children, Jackee (Tim) Hickerson of Lodi, CA., Jeannine (Howard) Mason of Henderson, NV., Max (Emma) Martin of Fairview, CA., and Michele Grubbs of Wrightwood, CA., seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.   

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in his Castro Valley home showcasing a final run of his beloved garden trains.  Contributions can be made in his memory to the George Mark Children’s House in San Leandro, CA.

We are leaving these stories up for a while so that people that knew Ken or knew of Ken can enjoy the spirit and commitment that he brought to the community.