Cremation for Douglas Martin
Donation protected
Death has a way of bringing people together as Dad found a way to ultimately bring our whole family together after his passing. Dad spoke many times about getting ready “to go out the back door”. But knowing that death is near never quite prepares you for the blow. Dad recently made a trip across Florida to California, passing through Columbus, New Mexico, to pay homage to a replica of Meher Baba’s Samadhi. Then finally arriving at my house, to be close to family, and mostly to his grand kids. I believe being around the children brought him tremendous joy.
Dad spoke of losing his appetite. I have heard of people approaching death, gradually losing their appetite, and ultimately I believe that this disinterest in eating is what led to his death.
Dad lived his life to the fullest and was loved by many, which was a testament to the passions and values that guided him in life. He cared deeply about his family and children and the great many fellow travelers that he met and touched throughout his life. He had many friends on Facebook who were touched immensely by his words and thoughts. When I think of how many beautiful words and thoughts he shared with me personally, my heart breaks knowing that there will be no more.
Dad and I shared a special bond of a love of junk and cool, unique, kitsch, collectible stuff and treasures, and he was a wealth of historical information about these treasures. Dad loved animals and always cared for all of them, even and especially, the wild ones, bringing scraps of food for them daily, despite people telling him “it’s probably not a good idea”.
His love for Meher Baba was immediate at his very introduction and he carried it throughout his life and shared it with many. My father lived an amazing life and we should be celebrating it. And we are.
I want my Dad to know that in the days that he is been gone, we have been celebrating his life. We have been sharing stories about Dad, and enjoying them with smiles, laughter, and tears, remembering the amazing things he did with us and for us. Celebrating Dad’s life together with my brothers and sisters has made our family stronger and closer than ever before. And has given us greater insight into all of Dad’s passions, joys, and values. His life and love have left an indelible impression and we will miss him every day.
Dad left us a legacy of love and a beautiful family to share our memories with, reminding us to love hard in the present because tomorrow is not promised. With the joy of life comes the inevitable certainty of death, which reminds us that we need to cherish the time we have on earth together.
Khalil Gibran once said: “When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight”.
Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai!
Douglas' children and grandchildren
Our Father, Douglas Wayne Martin, passed away unexpectedly on February 13 at his daughter, Sage Martin’s home in California.
Douglas had just completed a cross-country road-trip from his home in Florida to the Bay Area where several of his children reside. Douglas was in poor health and seemed to sense that he needed to be in the presence of his children soon. Along the way from Florida to California, Douglas stopped at the Perfect Master Shrine, in Columbus, New Mexico. The Perfect Master Shrine is a life size replica of the Samadhi, the tomb of Meher Baba, an Indian spiritual master. Meher Baba was the spiritual teacher to whom Douglas followed since the mid-1960s. Douglas had made numerous trips to India to visit the Samadhi and it was always his intent that it be his final resting place.
Samadhi of Meher Baba in India
Over the past year he had indicated a desire to return to India. However the practicalities of such a journey made it impossible. Douglas’s wife of 30 years, Luz Stella, returned to Colombia to be with her family. This necessitated them vacating the home they lived in for many years and getting rid of most of their possessions. It was at this time that Douglas made the journey back to California to be near his children
Douglas’s sudden passing has generated unexpected expenses that have placed a burden on his surviving family. Also, his family would like to honor his wishes to have his remains be brought to the Samadhi in India so that he can be near his spiritual master, Meher Baba. In light of this, his family is launching a gofundme campaign to cover funeral and transit to India costs for his remains. Any small donation would be greatly appreciated. We thank you for keeping Douglas in your hearts and we know how grateful he was for all of your friendship.
Douglas Wayne Martin bio:
Douglas Wayne Martin was born December 27, 1942 in Vallejo, California. He grew up in rural Dixon, California where he developed his life-long love of country living. Douglas enlisted in the army in 1962 where he was stationed in Okinawa. Japan for 2 years. After honorable discharge from the army he returned to Northern California where he remained until the mid-1970s. Douglas was a life-long explorer and adventure seeker. His curiosity led him to the field of textiles where he specialized in tribal carpets from Iran. He opened several retail stores in Berkeley where he sold the carpets and textiles he collected all over the world. He also opened an ethnic fabric store in the Walnut Square shopping center in the early 1970s.
Douglas (left) with friends at his carpet store on Solano Ave in Berkeley.
He eventually moved from the Bay Area to Southern California where he continued to operate stores and buy and sell carpets and textiles. Eventually in the late 1970s he traveled to Iran for research on the Gabbeh carpets made by the Quashqai tribe. This research would take up several years of his life and was one of the projects he was most proud of.
The 1980s found Douglas in Los Angeles where he lived by the ocean in Santa Monica. He continued to buy and sell carpets and travel the world. He also continued work on his documentation of Gabbeh carpets through a collaboration with his friend George D. Bornet in Switzerland.
In following years Douglas’s path took many unexpected turns. He was part of a redevelopment project in Fresno, California that was well ahead of its time. He and his partner purchased many buildings in downtown Fresno and drew up plans for a world class entertainment, science, art and residential redevelopment project.
Fate ultimately led Douglas to Colombia in South America where he met and married Luz Stella. Douglas made Colombia his home for many years traveling back and forth from Medellin to the US. Douglas returned to the US for good in the late 1990s settling near his mother, Oleta Brockway, in Daytona Beach Florida.
Douglas is survived by his children, Troy, Immanuel, Mira-bai, Sage, Horus, Douglas, Laura and Frederico Borja and his wife Luz Stella.
Dad spoke of losing his appetite. I have heard of people approaching death, gradually losing their appetite, and ultimately I believe that this disinterest in eating is what led to his death.
Dad lived his life to the fullest and was loved by many, which was a testament to the passions and values that guided him in life. He cared deeply about his family and children and the great many fellow travelers that he met and touched throughout his life. He had many friends on Facebook who were touched immensely by his words and thoughts. When I think of how many beautiful words and thoughts he shared with me personally, my heart breaks knowing that there will be no more.
Dad and I shared a special bond of a love of junk and cool, unique, kitsch, collectible stuff and treasures, and he was a wealth of historical information about these treasures. Dad loved animals and always cared for all of them, even and especially, the wild ones, bringing scraps of food for them daily, despite people telling him “it’s probably not a good idea”.
His love for Meher Baba was immediate at his very introduction and he carried it throughout his life and shared it with many. My father lived an amazing life and we should be celebrating it. And we are.
I want my Dad to know that in the days that he is been gone, we have been celebrating his life. We have been sharing stories about Dad, and enjoying them with smiles, laughter, and tears, remembering the amazing things he did with us and for us. Celebrating Dad’s life together with my brothers and sisters has made our family stronger and closer than ever before. And has given us greater insight into all of Dad’s passions, joys, and values. His life and love have left an indelible impression and we will miss him every day.
Dad left us a legacy of love and a beautiful family to share our memories with, reminding us to love hard in the present because tomorrow is not promised. With the joy of life comes the inevitable certainty of death, which reminds us that we need to cherish the time we have on earth together.
Khalil Gibran once said: “When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight”.
Avatar Meher Baba Ki Jai!
Douglas' children and grandchildren
Our Father, Douglas Wayne Martin, passed away unexpectedly on February 13 at his daughter, Sage Martin’s home in California.
Douglas had just completed a cross-country road-trip from his home in Florida to the Bay Area where several of his children reside. Douglas was in poor health and seemed to sense that he needed to be in the presence of his children soon. Along the way from Florida to California, Douglas stopped at the Perfect Master Shrine, in Columbus, New Mexico. The Perfect Master Shrine is a life size replica of the Samadhi, the tomb of Meher Baba, an Indian spiritual master. Meher Baba was the spiritual teacher to whom Douglas followed since the mid-1960s. Douglas had made numerous trips to India to visit the Samadhi and it was always his intent that it be his final resting place.
Samadhi of Meher Baba in IndiaOver the past year he had indicated a desire to return to India. However the practicalities of such a journey made it impossible. Douglas’s wife of 30 years, Luz Stella, returned to Colombia to be with her family. This necessitated them vacating the home they lived in for many years and getting rid of most of their possessions. It was at this time that Douglas made the journey back to California to be near his children
Douglas’s sudden passing has generated unexpected expenses that have placed a burden on his surviving family. Also, his family would like to honor his wishes to have his remains be brought to the Samadhi in India so that he can be near his spiritual master, Meher Baba. In light of this, his family is launching a gofundme campaign to cover funeral and transit to India costs for his remains. Any small donation would be greatly appreciated. We thank you for keeping Douglas in your hearts and we know how grateful he was for all of your friendship.
Douglas Wayne Martin bio:
Douglas Wayne Martin was born December 27, 1942 in Vallejo, California. He grew up in rural Dixon, California where he developed his life-long love of country living. Douglas enlisted in the army in 1962 where he was stationed in Okinawa. Japan for 2 years. After honorable discharge from the army he returned to Northern California where he remained until the mid-1970s. Douglas was a life-long explorer and adventure seeker. His curiosity led him to the field of textiles where he specialized in tribal carpets from Iran. He opened several retail stores in Berkeley where he sold the carpets and textiles he collected all over the world. He also opened an ethnic fabric store in the Walnut Square shopping center in the early 1970s.
Douglas (left) with friends at his carpet store on Solano Ave in Berkeley. He eventually moved from the Bay Area to Southern California where he continued to operate stores and buy and sell carpets and textiles. Eventually in the late 1970s he traveled to Iran for research on the Gabbeh carpets made by the Quashqai tribe. This research would take up several years of his life and was one of the projects he was most proud of.
The 1980s found Douglas in Los Angeles where he lived by the ocean in Santa Monica. He continued to buy and sell carpets and travel the world. He also continued work on his documentation of Gabbeh carpets through a collaboration with his friend George D. Bornet in Switzerland.
In following years Douglas’s path took many unexpected turns. He was part of a redevelopment project in Fresno, California that was well ahead of its time. He and his partner purchased many buildings in downtown Fresno and drew up plans for a world class entertainment, science, art and residential redevelopment project.
Fate ultimately led Douglas to Colombia in South America where he met and married Luz Stella. Douglas made Colombia his home for many years traveling back and forth from Medellin to the US. Douglas returned to the US for good in the late 1990s settling near his mother, Oleta Brockway, in Daytona Beach Florida.
Douglas is survived by his children, Troy, Immanuel, Mira-bai, Sage, Horus, Douglas, Laura and Frederico Borja and his wife Luz Stella.
Organizer
Sage Martin
Organizer
Albany, CA