Martin Bendetson of Haverhill and Palm Beach, Florida, died in his home Wednesday evening December 6, 2006, at eighty seven years old after a long illness. Husband of almost sixty years. Father of four. Grandfather of twelve. Great-grandfather of two. Above all, he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Marty was also a man who loved people and he made friends everywhere. "It doesn't cost anything to be nice," were the words he lived by and taught his children and grandchildren. He had imbibed this belief from his mother, and he quoted and applied it throughout his life, whether he was working with customers and employees in his furniture business, serving the public as a member of the Haverhill City Council, or talking with strangers. Whenever he met someone, he would ask, "Where are you from?" and invariably a connection would be made.
Marty was born in 1919 in Lynn, Massachusetts, to Rose {Stoleski} and William Bendetson; when he was three months old they moved to Haverhill where he lived for the rest of his life. His only sibling, Norris, was born a year later. From his earliest years, Marty earned a reputation for his unique blend of independence, optimism, and energy.
Marty was educated in Haverhill, and after graduating from Haverhill High School in 1937, he spent one year at Tilton Academy before attending Tufts University. Eager to fight Nazism and believing America's entry to World War II was imminent; Marty left Tufts early in his senior year and trained to become an officer in the Marines, only to find a day before graduation that he was 1/8" too short to serve. Immediately, he entered the Navy's officer training school at Notre Dame and during the war served as a lieutenant junior grade in Hawaii and the Aleutians. In 1942 he received his degree from Tufts in abstentia, and throughout his life he remained devoted to the University, supporting it vigorously over six decades.
After the war, Marty returned to Haverhill, and in 1947 he married Laura Kurland of Lynn. They were married almost sixty years, and he never stopped telling everyone that it was the smartest thing he had ever done. They raised four children, and each one was his favorite. During these years, Marty worked with his brother Norris to develop the family furniture business, Boston Furniture, now known as Cabot House, into one of New England's most successful furniture stores.
But running a business was never enough for Marty. He had a plan or idea for every day – and enough energy to accomplish them. Whether he was starting a city baseball league, building cottages in Seabrook Beach, or bringing the Haverhill Journal to town, Marty was always busy, with a smile on his face for everyone. For ten years he served on the Haverhill City Council, acting as Vice Chairman for two terms. At one time he was the highest vote getter in the city. He also was a Commander of the American Legion, a Mason, Vice President of the Lonetree Boy Scout Council, President of the Haverhill Exchange Club, and a member of the Elks, and an honorary member of Saint James Church. Outside his family, Marty's greatest love was for boats and the ocean. As a young husband and father, he owned a boat before he owned a home. Over the years there were many boats but his favorite was the 42' sailboat Encounter that was built in Taiwan. He had wanted to sail it from Taiwan to the Mediterranean, but regretfully acceded to his family's wishes that he not due to the danger of pirates. However, typically Marty had the last word, declaring, "Some people just don't know how to make friends." At 65 years old, he captained the Encounter across the Atlantic Ocean from the Canary Islands to Barbados.
Martin left his devoted wife Laura and children: Rose-Jane and David Sulman of Weston, Richard and Carol Bendetson of Wellesley, Carol and George Shube of Marblehead, and Andrew and Debbie Bendetson of Weston. He also leaves his adoring grandchildren: Daniel, Joseph, and Julie Sulman and Kimberly and Jonathan Starkman; Victoria and Samantha Bendetson; William and Douglas Shube and Alexandra and Emir Kurtovic; and Sonni, Sara, and James Bendetson. In addition, he leaves two great grandchildren, Samuel Starkman and Jasmina Kurtovic.
Burial: Children of Israel Cemetery in Haverhill.
Donations may be made in Martin's memory to Hillel at Tufts University, 220 Packard Avenue, Medford, MA 02155 or Temple Emanuel, 514 Main Street, Haverhill, MA 01830.
Marty was born in 1919 in Lynn, Massachusetts, to Rose {Stoleski} and William Bendetson; when he was three months old they moved to Haverhill where he lived for the rest of his life. His only sibling, Norris, was born a year later. From his earliest years, Marty earned a reputation for his unique blend of independence, optimism, and energy.
Marty was educated in Haverhill, and after graduating from Haverhill High School in 1937, he spent one year at Tilton Academy before attending Tufts University. Eager to fight Nazism and believing America's entry to World War II was imminent; Marty left Tufts early in his senior year and trained to become an officer in the Marines, only to find a day before graduation that he was 1/8" too short to serve. Immediately, he entered the Navy's officer training school at Notre Dame and during the war served as a lieutenant junior grade in Hawaii and the Aleutians. In 1942 he received his degree from Tufts in abstentia, and throughout his life he remained devoted to the University, supporting it vigorously over six decades.
After the war, Marty returned to Haverhill, and in 1947 he married Laura Kurland of Lynn. They were married almost sixty years, and he never stopped telling everyone that it was the smartest thing he had ever done. They raised four children, and each one was his favorite. During these years, Marty worked with his brother Norris to develop the family furniture business, Boston Furniture, now known as Cabot House, into one of New England's most successful furniture stores.
But running a business was never enough for Marty. He had a plan or idea for every day – and enough energy to accomplish them. Whether he was starting a city baseball league, building cottages in Seabrook Beach, or bringing the Haverhill Journal to town, Marty was always busy, with a smile on his face for everyone. For ten years he served on the Haverhill City Council, acting as Vice Chairman for two terms. At one time he was the highest vote getter in the city. He also was a Commander of the American Legion, a Mason, Vice President of the Lonetree Boy Scout Council, President of the Haverhill Exchange Club, and a member of the Elks, and an honorary member of Saint James Church. Outside his family, Marty's greatest love was for boats and the ocean. As a young husband and father, he owned a boat before he owned a home. Over the years there were many boats but his favorite was the 42' sailboat Encounter that was built in Taiwan. He had wanted to sail it from Taiwan to the Mediterranean, but regretfully acceded to his family's wishes that he not due to the danger of pirates. However, typically Marty had the last word, declaring, "Some people just don't know how to make friends." At 65 years old, he captained the Encounter across the Atlantic Ocean from the Canary Islands to Barbados.
Martin left his devoted wife Laura and children: Rose-Jane and David Sulman of Weston, Richard and Carol Bendetson of Wellesley, Carol and George Shube of Marblehead, and Andrew and Debbie Bendetson of Weston. He also leaves his adoring grandchildren: Daniel, Joseph, and Julie Sulman and Kimberly and Jonathan Starkman; Victoria and Samantha Bendetson; William and Douglas Shube and Alexandra and Emir Kurtovic; and Sonni, Sara, and James Bendetson. In addition, he leaves two great grandchildren, Samuel Starkman and Jasmina Kurtovic.
Burial: Children of Israel Cemetery in Haverhill.
Donations may be made in Martin's memory to Hillel at Tufts University, 220 Packard Avenue, Medford, MA 02155 or Temple Emanuel, 514 Main Street, Haverhill, MA 01830.
Martin Bendetson of Haverhill and Palm Beach, Florida, died in his home Wednesday evening December 6, 2006, at eighty seven years old after a long illness. Husband of almost sixty years. Father of four. Grandfather of twelve. Great-grandfather of two. Above all, he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Marty was also a man who loved people and he made friends everywhere. "It doesn't cost anything to be nice," were the words he lived by and taught his children and grandchildren. He had imbibed this belief from his mother, and he quoted and applied it throughout his life, whether he was working with customers and employees in his furniture business, serving the public as a member of the Haverhill City Council, or talking with strangers. Whenever he met someone, he would ask, "Where are you from?" and invariably a connection would be made.
Marty was born in 1919 in Lynn, Massachusetts, to Rose {Stoleski} and William Bendetson; when he was three months old they moved to Haverhill where he lived for the rest of his life. His only sibling, Norris, was born a year later. From his earliest years, Marty earned a reputation for his unique blend of independence, optimism, and energy.
Marty was educated in Haverhill, and after graduating from Haverhill High School in 1937, he spent one year at Tilton Academy before attending Tufts University. Eager to fight Nazism and believing America's entry to World War II was imminent; Marty left Tufts early in his senior year and trained to become an officer in the Marines, only to find a day before graduation that he was 1/8" too short to serve. Immediately, he entered the Navy's officer training school at Notre Dame and during the war served as a lieutenant junior grade in Hawaii and the Aleutians. In 1942 he received his degree from Tufts in abstentia, and throughout his life he remained devoted to the University, supporting it vigorously over six decades.
After the war, Marty returned to Haverhill, and in 1947 he married Laura Kurland of Lynn. They were married almost sixty years, and he never stopped telling everyone that it was the smartest thing he had ever done. They raised four children, and each one was his favorite. During these years, Marty worked with his brother Norris to develop the family furniture business, Boston Furniture, now known as Cabot House, into one of New England's most successful furniture stores.
But running a business was never enough for Marty. He had a plan or idea for every day – and enough energy to accomplish them. Whether he was starting a city baseball league, building cottages in Seabrook Beach, or bringing the Haverhill Journal to town, Marty was always busy, with a smile on his face for everyone. For ten years he served on the Haverhill City Council, acting as Vice Chairman for two terms. At one time he was the highest vote getter in the city. He also was a Commander of the American Legion, a Mason, Vice President of the Lonetree Boy Scout Council, President of the Haverhill Exchange Club, and a member of the Elks, and an honorary member of Saint James Church. Outside his family, Marty's greatest love was for boats and the ocean. As a young husband and father, he owned a boat before he owned a home. Over the years there were many boats but his favorite was the 42' sailboat Encounter that was built in Taiwan. He had wanted to sail it from Taiwan to the Mediterranean, but regretfully acceded to his family's wishes that he not due to the danger of pirates. However, typically Marty had the last word, declaring, "Some people just don't know how to make friends." At 65 years old, he captained the Encounter across the Atlantic Ocean from the Canary Islands to Barbados.
Martin left his devoted wife Laura and children: Rose-Jane and David Sulman of Weston, Richard and Carol Bendetson of Wellesley, Carol and George Shube of Marblehead, and Andrew and Debbie Bendetson of Weston. He also leaves his adoring grandchildren: Daniel, Joseph, and Julie Sulman and Kimberly and Jonathan Starkman; Victoria and Samantha Bendetson; William and Douglas Shube and Alexandra and Emir Kurtovic; and Sonni, Sara, and James Bendetson. In addition, he leaves two great grandchildren, Samuel Starkman and Jasmina Kurtovic.
Burial: Children of Israel Cemetery in Haverhill.
Donations may be made in Martin's memory to Hillel at Tufts University, 220 Packard Avenue, Medford, MA 02155 or Temple Emanuel, 514 Main Street, Haverhill, MA 01830.
Marty was born in 1919 in Lynn, Massachusetts, to Rose {Stoleski} and William Bendetson; when he was three months old they moved to Haverhill where he lived for the rest of his life. His only sibling, Norris, was born a year later. From his earliest years, Marty earned a reputation for his unique blend of independence, optimism, and energy.
Marty was educated in Haverhill, and after graduating from Haverhill High School in 1937, he spent one year at Tilton Academy before attending Tufts University. Eager to fight Nazism and believing America's entry to World War II was imminent; Marty left Tufts early in his senior year and trained to become an officer in the Marines, only to find a day before graduation that he was 1/8" too short to serve. Immediately, he entered the Navy's officer training school at Notre Dame and during the war served as a lieutenant junior grade in Hawaii and the Aleutians. In 1942 he received his degree from Tufts in abstentia, and throughout his life he remained devoted to the University, supporting it vigorously over six decades.
After the war, Marty returned to Haverhill, and in 1947 he married Laura Kurland of Lynn. They were married almost sixty years, and he never stopped telling everyone that it was the smartest thing he had ever done. They raised four children, and each one was his favorite. During these years, Marty worked with his brother Norris to develop the family furniture business, Boston Furniture, now known as Cabot House, into one of New England's most successful furniture stores.
But running a business was never enough for Marty. He had a plan or idea for every day – and enough energy to accomplish them. Whether he was starting a city baseball league, building cottages in Seabrook Beach, or bringing the Haverhill Journal to town, Marty was always busy, with a smile on his face for everyone. For ten years he served on the Haverhill City Council, acting as Vice Chairman for two terms. At one time he was the highest vote getter in the city. He also was a Commander of the American Legion, a Mason, Vice President of the Lonetree Boy Scout Council, President of the Haverhill Exchange Club, and a member of the Elks, and an honorary member of Saint James Church. Outside his family, Marty's greatest love was for boats and the ocean. As a young husband and father, he owned a boat before he owned a home. Over the years there were many boats but his favorite was the 42' sailboat Encounter that was built in Taiwan. He had wanted to sail it from Taiwan to the Mediterranean, but regretfully acceded to his family's wishes that he not due to the danger of pirates. However, typically Marty had the last word, declaring, "Some people just don't know how to make friends." At 65 years old, he captained the Encounter across the Atlantic Ocean from the Canary Islands to Barbados.
Martin left his devoted wife Laura and children: Rose-Jane and David Sulman of Weston, Richard and Carol Bendetson of Wellesley, Carol and George Shube of Marblehead, and Andrew and Debbie Bendetson of Weston. He also leaves his adoring grandchildren: Daniel, Joseph, and Julie Sulman and Kimberly and Jonathan Starkman; Victoria and Samantha Bendetson; William and Douglas Shube and Alexandra and Emir Kurtovic; and Sonni, Sara, and James Bendetson. In addition, he leaves two great grandchildren, Samuel Starkman and Jasmina Kurtovic.
Burial: Children of Israel Cemetery in Haverhill.
Donations may be made in Martin's memory to Hillel at Tufts University, 220 Packard Avenue, Medford, MA 02155 or Temple Emanuel, 514 Main Street, Haverhill, MA 01830.
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