Obituary: James H. Martens, Deputy Chief, NHFD (Ret.), 69

Information via W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home

James H. Martens, Deputy Chief, NHFD (Ret.), died Friday December 23, 2016 at Yale-New Haven Hospital after a brief illness. He was the beloved husband of Linda McKeon Martens.

James was born November 3, 1947 in New Haven, son of the late NHFD Battalion Chief Henry and Julia Finnegan Martens. A graduate of St. Francis School in Fair Haven and Wilbur Cross High School, he attended Providence College and obtained his MA from Wesleyan University while concurrently obtaining an MS from SCSU.

He was an adjunct professor at Gateway Community College for many years and a proud member of the New Haven Emerald Society and the Irish American Community Center, serving as the chairman of its 50th anniversary Connecticut Irish Festival. He was a firefighter with the New Haven Fire Department for 31 years, retiring in 2004 as a Deputy Chief. During his firefighting career, he received three unit citations and one Medal of Merit.

Besides his wife, he is survived by his son, Kerry Martens of Northford; his sister, Maryellen Downey of East Sandwich, MA; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Gerald Martens; his beloved aunt Mary Finnegan and uncles Joseph and Gerald Finnegan.

Memorial donations may be sent to the American Liver Foundation, Connecticut Division, 127 Washington Ave., North Haven, CT 06473.