Martin William Early

July 24, 1929—September 17, 2024

Martin was born across the river from his family home in North Dakota, and spent some of his childhood in rural New Mexico, where his mother worked as a teacher. He was grateful for the perspective gleaned from seeing how different cultures could contribute to a community.

He and his mother and brother moved to Los Angeles when he was 14, allowing him to attend Hamilton High and then UCLA, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in geography and a master’s in education administration. After serving as an officer in radio communications in the Navy in Japan, he returned to marry Anne Curtis and become the father of three children: David, Michael, and Diane. He worked as a salesman for SRA Reading Laboratory selling reading kits, then worked for Career Aids, a producer of educational materials. He later bought that company. He and Anne also started a second company, Opportunities for Learning, producing various forms of educational materials including some of the first educational software. They sold both businesses in 1990.

In retirement, Martin and Anne both volunteered for many years for Chrysalis, a Los Angeles-based group that helps people find and keep jobs, and they were also volunteer leaders at the Northridge United Methodist Church. In 2000, Martin and Anne were recognized by the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals as the “Outstanding Philanthropists” for the year. When a reporter visited their home to interview them about this award, she was startled to find them living in a modest house and driving a Prius. When she expressed surprise, Martin explained that they were happy with their choices and didn’t need to surround themselves with luxuries.

Martin and Anne traveled extensively, visiting China when it first opened to Western tourists in 1979, teaching English in Poland, completing an African safari, studying Spanish in Mexico, and visiting at least 12 other countries. After Anne’s death in 2011, he took a final trip with his children on the TransCanada Railroad from Vancouver to Banff.

Martin and Anne moved to a retirement community in Thousand Oaks in 2010, part of a contingent of new residents from the Northridge church. Over the years before he passed, he lost his vision and accepted that loss with grace. Shortly before his death, he said that he had lived his life hoping that that he had done more good than harm, and that he thought he had a achieved this goal. He also said, “I used to be afraid of dying, but it’s not so bad with so many loved ones around.”

Martin died peacefully, surrounded by family on September 17, 2024. There will be a memorial in his honor on Saturday October 26, 2024 at 2:00 pm the Northridge United Methodist Church (9650 Reseda Blvd, Northridge, CA 91324). All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Chrysalis (https://www.changelives.org/).