Peter James Robert Martin arrived in this world on March 7, 1940, and passed peacefully into the next on October 25, 2024. He was born to Peter Martin and Rosemarie (Cline) and raised in St. Albans, Long Island, and Jamacia, Queens, N.Y. Peter came to Franklin County, Vt. in 1969 along with his first wife and child, Pamela (Mesick) and Thomas P. Martin, later adding daughter Deidre to the family. Peter developed a great love for the countryside and farming communities during summer visits spent on his beloved grandfather’s family farm in Sullivan County, N.Y. Settling in Vermont was a dream come true.
Peter attended Catholic schools from elementary through law school, graduating from Fordham Law School with a Juris Doctor degree. His scholastic career was interrupted during the years 1961 to 1964, when he volunteered for the U.S. Army and served as a proud member of the 82nd Airborne Division, in honor of the many paratrooper heroes of World War II.
Passing the Vermont bar in 1969, Peter began his career as a country lawyer, managing the various law needs of his community with honesty, candor, respect and, of course, his unerring wit. Possessing an uncanny ability to connect with people through humor, Peter developed deep and long-lasting relationships through a belief in the adages “Laughter is the best medicine” and “If you can’t laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at?” Or was it that mischievous Irish glint in his eyes that won people over? Peter retired in 2023, after a diagnosis of cancer, ending his career of 54 years.
During those years, Peter had the honor of working with a great many esteemed colleagues and members of the court, as with his many clients, several for whom he represented successive generations. Peter shared the office with his longtime colleague of 35 years, Don Pellman, for whom he had great regard. Don and his family were as Peter’s extended family.
Peter met and later married the love of his life, Evelyn Palardy, with whom he spent 33 short years. They split their time between their sugar bush in Fairfield, their boat on the lake and each other’s embrace at home. The times they shared on the lake with friends and family were particularly special, often opening the boating season renting a slip on the waterfront during the Burlington Jazz Festival.
Peter is survived by his wife, Evelyn Martin; their son, Josip Martin, his wife, Maria Paula Arboleda Martin, and their children, Bruce and Celine; son Thomas P. Martin, his wife, Cindy, and their son, Colin, of Albuquerque N.M.; his McCaughly grandchildren, Caitlin, Alex, Thomas, Edward and Jacob, all of North Carolina; and his special Martin cousins, James of Delaware, Robert of Connecticut, Thomas (Rosemarie) of Long Island, Ann Marie Brull (John) of Rockville Center, Joseph Martin of New York and Marilyn Evans of Florida.
Peter was predeceased by his parents and grandparents; daughter, Diedre McCaughly; his in-laws, Joseph and Rejane Palardy; beloved brother-in-law Guy Palardy; and, with great sadness, grandson Thomas P. Martin Jr.
The family cannot express enough gratitude to the incredibly capable and caring hospice staff at VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region in Rutland (formerly Franklin County Home Health), a profession of people providing exceptional support through this time of transition and loss.
Thanks also to the extraordinary group of friends present at Peter’s time of passing, who toasted him as he left his longtime home and who, along with A.W Rich Funeral Services of Fairfax, orchestrated a dignified and respectful send-off. Taps was played for Peter’s service to his country, as well as Bob Marley’s “One Love,” reflecting his spirit, as he was carried down Main Street in St. Albans.
A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on November 18, 2024, 11 a.m., at Holy Angels Catholic Church, 246 Lake St., St. Albans, followed by a celebration of life at Jeff’s Maine Seafood, 65 North Main St. Please join us and share those “Peter Martin stories” we all have.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the VNA, Friends of Northern Lake Champlain, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or your PBS station, or simply engage in some random acts of kindness. Please visit awrichfuneralhomes.com to share your memories and condolences.
This article appears in Nov 6-12, 2024.
Evelyn, Please except my sincere condolences at this time. Peter and you have always been loving, kind and giving. In my book what more could you ask for.🙏🏻