Martin Francis Medeiros known to family and friends as “Marty” passed away on February 16, 2019 at Newport Hospital at the age of 91. He is lovingly remembered by his wife of 66 years Mary Santos Medeiros. He is survived by his children, Katharine M. Medeiros RRT, Grace A. Medeiros, M.D., Mary E. Medeiros, Ph.D., Martin F. Medeiros II, Esq., and seven grandchildren.
Born in Middletown, Rhode Island, he was the son of the late Antonio G. Medeiros and the late Mary Escobar Medeiros.
He was predeceased by his siblings Joseph G. Medeiros, Mary M. Nunes, Anthony Medeiros and Arthur Medeiros.
He registered to enlist in the U.S. Army at the age of 17. He served in Japan in the 127th Airborne Engineer Battalion of the 82nd Airborne Division certified as a paratrooper and gliderist. He was stationed in Japan as part of the occupational forces. After his tour of duty, he was honorably discharged in 1947.
He attended Northrop Aeronautical Institute in California. He returned to Rhode Island accepting a position with architect Christopher Dutra. In 1952 he started Marty’s Inc., a retailer in Middletown, Rhode Island, where he was president for 44 years.
Martin was passionate about baseball. He played as pitcher and later managed the Middletown Baseball Team in the “farm league.” He was an avid Boston Red Sox fan.
Martin was an avid civil aviator, IFR certified in various single-engine aircraft. He accumulated hundreds of flight hours in his own Cessna 172 (N2584Y).
Martin joined the Middletown Rotary Club in 1952 and achieved 54 years of perfect attendance. He was President of the Middletown Rotary club from 1962-1963. He was named a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International. He also served as: President of the Seven Castles Club; President of the Serra Club of Newport; President of the Jesus Saviour School Parents Guild; President of the Newport County Liquor Stores Association; Board Member of the Rhode Island Liquor Stores Association; Retailer of the Year by Heublien awarded at the National Convention in Las Vegas; Member of the Airplane Owners and Pilots Association Aeronautics Committee; Chairman of the Newport County Chamber of Commerce Aeronautics Committee in 1966; Member of the The Mount Sinai School of Medicine Parents Alumni Association; and Commander of the American Legion Post no. 66.
Funeral services will be held, Thursday, February 21, 2019 at 8:30 AM from the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 AM in Jesus Saviour Church, 509 Broadway, Newport. Burial with military honors will follow at St. Columba Cemetery.
