Martin Joseph Horan Jr.

Martin Joseph Horan Jr. passed away September 5th, 2016 in his home in Larkspur, Colorado. Marty was born in Brooklyn, New York on June 7th, 1947 to Martin J. Sr. and Camille P. Horan, who preceded him in death. He was 69 years old.

Marty is survived by his wife, Barbara E. Horan; his daughter, Amanda N. Horan of Queenstown, New Zealand; his son, Christopher M. Horan of Aurora, Colorado; the mother of his children, Deidra A. (Robert) Horan of Englewood, Colorado; and his stepson, Daniel P. (Danielle) Kirk of Littleton, Colorado. He is also survived by his three siblings, Thomas C. (Catherine) Horan of New York, Camille K. Horan of New York, and Vincent J. (Georgianne) Horan of Pennsylvania. He also leaves behind his nephews, cousins, extended family and countless friends.

Marty attended Xaverian High School and Fordham University in New York where his demeanor got him the fitting nickname, “Happy”. After graduation he joined the Air Force in 1968. He completed his pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas in 1969 and started a forty-year career in the air. He served two tours in the Vietnam War in 1971 and 1972. During his Air Force career, he flew EC-47’s, DC-3’s, KC-135’s, and B-52’s. He was stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; Loring AFB, Maine; Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina; and Fairchild AFB, Washington. Marty retired from the Air Force at the rank of Major in 1988.

In 1975 while stationed at Loring AFB, he met Dede, an Air Force airman. She and Marty married on October 11th, 1975. They welcomed their first child, Mandy in 1977 and then Christopher in 1980. The family moved to Englewood, Colorado in 1989 when Marty was hired as a pilot for United Airlines. Starting as a Flight Engineer on 727's, he moved up to First Officer and eventually Captain on 737's. In October 1994, Marty and Dede were divorced.

While working for United and after his divorce, Marty was making many trips through security at Stapleton Airport and got to know a special TSA, Barbara Mann. They were married in Des Moines, Iowa on September 16th, 2000.

Marty retired from United Airlines in 2007 but he wasn’t one to sit still. He started his own courier company delivering interoffice mail for the four doctors’ offices of the company Barbara works for. Always one for a clever name and wanting to put a smile on people’s faces, he called his company Leighton Slough Couriers.

One of Marty’s favorite places to go here in Colorado was to his cabin, “The High Lonesome”, in Cotopaxi. Here he found quiet respite where he could easily spend a few days tinkering around or taking peaceful walks in the woods.

To know Marty was to know a happy, optimistic, carefree man who loved to share a funny story or joke. In his free time, Marty enjoyed reading classic Pulitzer Prize novels and books on the Holocaust, history, flying and war. He enjoyed working with his hands, from building a two story tree house for his kids to a model village in the basement of his Larkspur home.

In 1999, Marty and Barb purchased their home in Larkspur. It was the first time in Marty’s life he bought a home by choice not due to a job transfer. Many weekends were spent going out “junking” with Barb to find treasures in antique stores and markets. The items they found on these outings were beautifully displayed throughout their home. During their extensive travels to favorite cities of Amsterdam, Venice, and Cinque Terra, they gathered little trinkets and took many photographs of places they visited. These items filled the guest room of their home which was referred to as the “travel room”. It was in this room where Marty spent his final days surrounded by these special memories.

Marty lived a good life, raised by loving parents, surrounded by close siblings and extended family. He had the everlasting love of his two children and the love of two amazing women. He had a career he loved and always said “it beats working for a living”.

If you were to ask Marty how he was doing, his answer was always “better than before but not as good as later.” However, his final year was his toughest and the “later” wasn’t always better than the “before.” In July of 2015, he was diagnosed with cancer and given 18 months to live. He battled it out for 14 brave months. In the late hours of September 5th, he asked Barb, where were his pilots and if they were in their seats? Barb replied, “They’re here and in their seats.” Then he asked if the flight attendants were there and in their seats. Barb responded, “Yes,” at which point he said, “Then it’s time to take off.” Moments later he took his last breath in the loving arms of Barb. He wouldn’t have had it any other way – in his home, with Barbara, taking his final flight.

A Celebration of Life for Marty will be held on October 1st, 2016 at 1:00 pm at Buckley Air Force Base, 18500 E 6th Ave, Aurora, Colorado 80011.

**R.S.V.P. by Friday, September 23rd, 2016 (Required for access through the gate.) Name and Driver’s License number to Cindy Reimers at 303-204-5593 or [email protected].

**Carpools suggested.

**Proper Attire: Business Casual, No Jeans.

The family requests memorial donations be made in Marty’s name to:

CCFA, 1805 S Bellaire Suite 185, Denver, Colorado 80222 or www.ccfa.org with a note stating in memory of Marty Horan.