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Post by mylarsleeve on Jul 7, 2024 20:05:59 GMT -5
I had the privilege of working with Marty for many years at RIT as his colleague, then his manager, and his friend. He taught me so much about designing effective training.
It was always a pleasure to see him pop up at visiting lectures on campus by Ed Piskor, Adam Kubert, Lynda Barry and countless others. Fellow travelers in the hobby, he generously shared some books with me and with the comics studies classes. I regret not helping him close some holes in his run of American Flagg when I had the chance! Thank you for everything, MDG.
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Post by coke & comics on Jul 8, 2024 4:15:48 GMT -5
Awful to hear this. What a great guy.
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
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Post by shaxper on Jul 8, 2024 11:41:45 GMT -5
I've struggled with what to write about this. It would be dishonest to say that Marty and I were particularly close, and yet he meant a ton to me and I thought (and think) the world of him. When I first joined this community waaaaaay back in 2006, Marty was one of a handful of "the Old Guard" of folks who had been there before me that I truly looked up to. As I got to know him a little better too, his photography became a regular highlight on my facebook feed, and his kind face always had an uncanny resemblance to that of my grandfather, so I couldn't help but love and appreciate his presence. I admired that he got to work in a field he truly loved, that he had unending support for the community and for all of us in it, and that he had an uncanny knowledge and love for those classic underground Comix, seeing their inherent value and brilliance long before anyone else could see them for anything other than smut.
And he did a G'nort story. Somehow I've never gotten over that one.
I don't know. The internet is a weird phenomenon, and maybe the CCF even moreso, because if you get involved and really listen, you learn a whole lot about a person and sometimes get to know them on levels that even their friends and families don't know or see. And yet, on other levels, it can seem like you don't know them at all. I called Marty family earlier on, and I meant it. I consider him a critical part of one of the most important family units in my life, and yet I never met him and know nothing of all these people who are now grieving his loss. What does one make of that?
I don't know, and that's why I waited so long to write this. Marty is now the third great friend this community has lost in its ten years of running, and he is irreplaceable. He will be sorely missed, not just for a week, a month, or a year. He will be on my mind every time I log in here, and I will carry his memory with me.
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Post by tartanphantom on Jul 8, 2024 19:25:47 GMT -5
Not much I can add to this, but his presence will be missed.
Vaya con Dios, Marty, and say "Hi" to brutalis for us. |
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Post by berkley on Jul 9, 2024 1:55:10 GMT -5
Somehow missed seeing this until just now. So shocked and saddened to hear this announcement. I didn't get to know Marty well but I had a great impression of him as a person from seeing how he handled himself here in general conversation.
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Post by foxley on Jul 9, 2024 3:12:05 GMT -5
I have been reading this thread, but I refrained from posting because there is nothing I can say that has not already been said better by others.
Vale MDG.
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Post by chadwilliam on Jul 9, 2024 10:57:00 GMT -5
Terrible news. I didn't know him well, but would be grateful for any further stories anyone wanted to share.
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Post by Rob Allen on Jul 9, 2024 12:45:58 GMT -5
I just looked up exactly what Marty did at RIT. I'm impressed that the university has such a department - mine certainly didn't. Marty did some valuable and interesting work. www.rit.edu/teaching/ - see Marty's picture on the About Us page. |
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Post by dbutler69 on Jul 11, 2024 15:20:02 GMT -5
I just found this thread. Wow, very sad news. Condolences to his family and loved ones.
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,860
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Post by shaxper on Jul 12, 2024 8:16:04 GMT -5
From Marty's family:
I sure wish I lived close enough to be there. I'd love to see his life's work on display. What an amazing way to honor him!
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,197 
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Post by Confessor on Jul 12, 2024 8:42:52 GMT -5
From Marty's family: I sure wish I lived close enough to be there. I'd love to see his life's work on display. What an amazing way to honor him! Absolutely. I wish I lived closer too. |
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Post by nrg on Jul 12, 2024 20:36:21 GMT -5
Hi folks. I’m Nate, Marty’s eldest son.
I just wanted to drop in to say thank you for all the support and love we’ve felt from this forum this week.
Our father could hold things close to the vest at times. When he did the CCF podcast a couple years ago I came here and was shocked to see that he was such a prolific poster. It truly made me smile to see that he had found this community online where he could kick back and chat about his favorite thing in the world.
While I’m sorry to say that us kids aren’t quite as prolific lovers of comics as him, there were opportunities to connect. One example: I read Dad’s Nancy books over and over growing up. A few years ago I mentioned that I wanted to get one for my daughter, but they were out of print. He sent me one of his, which she and I read together (and I later put in safe storage rather than subject it to her messy room).
When I was young, I would go to the comic store every week with my dad. While he browsed or picked up a preorder, I’d occasionally pick up one of the Duck comics of the Gladstone era. Eventually my nerdier proclivities were different and more often I’d pick up a Star Trek novel or Magic: The Gathering cards. Still, getting to wander the stores and check out all the different books is a memory that will never fade, and one I enjoy with my kids as well (when we get the chance to get to an old-school comic shop with lots of long boxes)
Dad often mailed my kids stacks of comics as he simultaneously pared down his collection while still strolling shows and cons. My son is more knowledgeable than me about Batman, for example, thanks to dad’s curated introduction. My daughter enjoyed Little Lulu and he even found a vintage LL game to send her.
His love of the comics and their art was central to his life. I was with my dad when he died but after I called my family to tell them to join me my wife said my daughter spent the whole day carrying around a couple of the hand-drawn cards he sent her over the years. How lucky they were to have such a talented and creative grandfather who shared his art with them.
I miss my father intensely and thank you all for being a part of his life. I will endeavor to return with some pics from the memorial.
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Post by foxley on Jul 12, 2024 23:13:34 GMT -5
Thanks for the post nrg. I'm sure I speak for all of at CCF when I say I really appreciate you taking the time to reach out to a community of strangers during your time of loss and grieving. I am glad you have such fond memories of father and his love of comics, and that that love has been passed on to his grandchildren. I'm not sure your father knew just how much he was appreciated in this little community, but he will be sorely missed. My deepest condolences to you and your family during these trying times. And if you ever feel like dropping in CCF,you will be made very welcome. |
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