Martin, Kathy Faye Buckholtz 1956-2008

MARTIN, BUCKHOLTZ, WALKER, IVERSON, DAMON, PRITCHARD, CAMPBELL, HARRISON

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 6/20/2013 at 16:24:24

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
Jan. 5, 2009

KATHY FAYE BUCKHOLTZ MARTIN

Kathy Faye Buckholtz Martin, 52, of Rahway, New Jersey, formerly of Grinnell; died on December 14, 2008. Arrangements were handled by Pettit-Davis Funeral Home of Rahway. A celebration of life service will be held January 10, 2009, at the American Legion Hall in Rahway. She is survived by her husband, Michael Martin; two sons, Geoffrey and Alexander; and one daughter, Stephanie; her sister, Elena Walker of St. Paul, Minnesota; and by her parents, Norman and Janice Buckholtz, 151 Paddock Circle, Iowa City, Iowa 52240; uncles and aunts, Faye Iverson, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Carol Damon, Oelwein, Iowa; Lyle and Judy Pritchard, McGregor, Iowa; James and Jane Campbell, Arcadia, Fla.; Steven and Helen Campbell, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Jerry and Mary Ann Campbell, Norwich, CT; Larry and Cherri Harrison, Springfield, Oregon; in-laws, Robert and Lillian Martin; and brothers-in-law, David and Daniel Martin, all of San Luis Obispio, Ca.; numerous cousins and beloved cats Pinchas, Pepper, Theodore, Austin and Phantom.

Kathy was born June 26, 1956 at Mercy Hospital in Oelwein, Iowa. She attended Southside and Harlan schools through third grade and in 1965 with her family moved to Ottumwa, Iowa. It was there she began her music studies, playing the violin and then becoming a violist. The family moved to Grinnell, Iowa in 1973. She graduated from Grinnell Senior High in 1974, attended Grinnell College, studying the viola with Andy Berdahl of the Manhattan String Quartet, Artists in Residence at Grinnell College. She received a scholarship to Manhattan School of Music in NYC and studied there with Lillian Fuches and Ariana Bronne. She completed two years of study and went on to become a legal secretary. She married Michael A. Martin of San Luis Obispo, California, on August 29, 1980, at Herrick Chapel at Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa.

She worked at Cohen Wiess and Simon, Thelen Reid & Priest, Kirkland Ellis, Davis & Gilbert law firms. For a time she owned and operated Kathy Martin's Word Shop and for the last six years was with Goodwin-Procter law firm.

In 1998 she graduated summa cum laude with a BA in English from Fordham College at Lincoln Center, NYC. She was a member of Alpha Sigma Lambda, Adulf Student Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and Alpha Sigma Nu, Jesuit Honor Society. She was the Valedictory Speaker for the Fordham Class of 1998 Graduation. She received the Anne-Marie Sheedy Award in English, and also the Robert F. Nettleton/Ully Hirsch Poetry Award. She was the 1997-98 Charlotte Newcombe Foundation Scholar.

In 1980 she joined Sweet Adelines International and began singing with Ramapo Valley Chorus in Upper Saddle River, NJ. She sang baritone in Manhattan Rendezvous quartet, bass in quartets Showcase,, Night Magic, and Jet Set. She also sang in Greater Nassau chorus. Kathy's quartets consistently placed in top ten from a field of 50 contestants in Sweet Adelines International quartet contests, receiving 3rd place medals twice. Both she and daughter Stephanie sang with Ramapo Valley Chorus at International Chorus contest in Detroit in 2005. Kathy had a deep appreciation for all music, but singing a cappella four-part harmony barbershop style was her passion, and she was renown for her rich warm voice.

The family has requested no flowers. Remembrances can be posted on line at legacy.com. Memorials can be made to the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) or to Sweet Adelines International or to the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (NLCHP).