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James Benjamin Martin, had variety of passions

January 26, 2020

James Benjamin Martin passed away peacefully last week.   

Jim was a loving husband to Celia Vlasin Martin and father to Benjamin, Dana and Carolyn Martin. Born in Wilmington to John and Mary Martin, Jim is survived by his five sisters and one brother who live across Washington, D.C., Delaware, New Jersey and Ohio.  He was a loving uncle to 13 nieces and nephews. He also loved the dogs he raised over the years (“dogs are people too”), and is survived by Sandy.

Jim was an active member in the communities of Washington, D.C., and his native Delaware, spending every summer in Rehoboth.  He served on the board of Indian Beach Homeowners Association, and supported the Indian Beach lifeguards, and the state dune grass restoration effort,

A proud graduate of Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., Jim began his career working for U.S. Sen. Bill Roth from Delaware.  Jim had a fulfilling career in institutional portfolio management which began when he spent a high school summer as a teller at Delaware Trust.  His career work included tenures at Riggs National Bank Trust Dept., ASB Capital Management, and Columbia Partners, all in Washington D.C. He retired in 2007. 

Jim shared a number of passions. He was an avid squash player, having played on the Trinity College team. He enjoyed all manner of outdoor recreation, which he developed as a youth and as a member of the National Outdoor Leadership School. In particular, he loved the beaches of southern Delaware and enjoyed organizing boat outings with the help of the great people at the Rehoboth Bay Marina.  Jim loved his beach friends dearly, had a keen sense of inclusiveness, and loved to dance and watch the sunset from the Rusty Rudder deck.   

He loved his subscription to the Cape Gazette, and remaining current on Rehoboth activities.  He appeared in the Gazette with his son on Halloween at Browseabout Books’ midnight release of a Harry Potter book.  He and his daughter were also featured in a picture showing their Cape Gazette at the Masters Golf Tournament.

A Celebration of Jim’s Life held will be held later in the year.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a nonprofit organization of importance to you, or choose one of Jim's favorites: the Rehoboth Volunteer Fire Co., the Rehoboth Public Library and the Delaware Seashore Preservation Foundation.  

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