Dana Marty Martin Long

Dana "Marty" Martin Long, 53 of Mesa, Arizona, passed away on Saturday February 11, 2012. Marty was born March 20, 1958 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Ann and Dennis Long. Marty was the fourth of seven brothers and sisters, Dennis, Diane, Dale, Denise, David and Donna. He grew up in the small town of Waterford, Wisconsin, attending Waterford High School, where he was considered by most of his friends and fellow classmates to be a B.M.O.C. (Big Man on Campus), Marty always referred to himself, simply as a "Frock" (Freak / Jock). He called himself this because even though he was a Varsity Letterman time and time again in wresting, football, track, and cross-country running, he was also involved with the arts. Marty starred in several school musicals and was captain of the glee club. These things combined with the fact that he was quite an academic student gave way to his self declared title.

After high school, Marty left home and joined the circus! He worked for Great America for a short period of time as the "Ring Announcer" . . . he would start off each performance with, "Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, Children of ALL ages . . ." He was also a performer in the circus as well; his character name was "Grippo the Strong Man". He would amaze the on-lookers as he wielded 1000's of pounds in dumbbell weights for the audiences' delight.

After leaving the circus, Marty joined our country's armed forces. A veteran, Marty was a Sergeant in the United States Army. While stationed in Seoul, Korea, he met his first wife Chong Cha "C.C." Kim. Marty and C.C. were married and moved to Fort Campbell, Kentucky where they welcomed their only child David James Long. After Kentucky, the Long family lived in Honolulu, Hawaii for several years, where Marty and C.C. owned and operated the Pearl Light Lounge, until they eventually made Arizona their home in 1986, where they then purchased the Italian Chef restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona; owning and operating the eatery for several more years, until Marty and C.C. ended their marriage and went their separate ways.

In his later years, Marty developed his passion of riding motor cycles. Meeting his second wife, Jo Beth, they shared the biker enthusiasm, and they enjoyed riding with friends and family around the state of Arizona and Nevada. Marty enjoyed nothing more than taking a winding mountain road; visiting different locales, and stopping off to enjoy a good lunch and cold beer with his fellow riders.

Another of Marty's passions was to sing. Every chance that he had, Marty would belt out a tune. He would often tell the story of how he saw the Beatles perform for the first time on the Ed Sullivan show and how he and his siblings danced and sang along. He also said that during that few minutes of time, there was no known reported crimes anywhere in the United States, making him believe that music could make a difference and change the world. Truly having the gift of song, he enjoyed going out with friends to perform karaoke. While he could perform a variety of songs with the greatest of ease, Marty had two signature songs which he would always perform. He would always start with "Enter Sandman" by Metallica (often blowing fire from his mouth during the song's guitar introduction) and finishing with the "Piano Man" by Billy Joel. Almost always leaving the crowd in a state of confusion in wondering how someone could go from one extreme to the other in song selection, yet always leaving them wanting more.

Sports were also very important to him, and of course being from Wisconsin, Marty was naturally a Packers and a true "Cheese Head" fan and enjoyed rooting on his favorite team; often calling others into question as to the name of the Super Bowl Trophy. Always reminding those that spoke poorly of his team that it was the named the "Vince Lombardi" Trophy, and that it received its name because he was the greatest coach and he coached the greatest team, the "Green Bay Packers". He would often say, "You know, the Packers were so great, the Super Bowl was invented just for them".

The thing that Marty was most passionate about was his family and friends. He would always go out of his way to help when and where he could, but would always comment on how he wished he could do more. He was proud father, a good friend, brother and a devoted grandfather. In his last 6 years, Marty did nothing short of brag about family, especially his grandchildren, Riley and Gavin. Never missing an opportunity to share photographs and stories about them and how remarkable and talented he knew they were. He truly lived for them as they were the world to him.

Marty is survived by his wife Jo Beth Long, son David James Long (Heather), step-daughter Sarah Wellman, parents Dennis Long and Ann Long, siblings Donna Long, Dale Long (Cindy), Dennis Long (Kris), David Long, Denise Genthe (Herb) and Diane Miller (Randy), and his grandchildren Riley Nicole Long and Gavin Carter Long. He is also survived by his close friends Mark Rasmus and Kathy Rasmus, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles and other close friends. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 25th, 2012 at 10:30 am, at the Mariposa Gardens Funeral Care Cemetery Chapel, 6747 East Broadway Road., Mesa, Arizona 85206.