Share a Memory of Marty

“My friend and I met marty many years ago in cresthaven where there was weekly dances He was and always will be very dear to me and in my heart. He was a great dancer and great friend and loved his family I still remember all those memories and think about his 75th birthday party when I last saw him in person.we always exchanged birthday and Christmas cards. Hope he dances his heart out in heaven with Margaret”

“I met Marty on FB about 10 years ago. I was immediately struck by his kind responses to my posts, and his caring about the world, through his posts. What a gentleman he was. Never once did he disrespect anyone, or try to push his beliefs on others. I will miss this gentle man until it’s my turn to leave here. Rest in Peace, Marty. You were one of the good ones!…🌹”

“I met Marty in 2018 to discover we had so much in common - the love of baseball, rock n roll, personal exercise routines, acting, progressive politics, family, kids. But more than this, Marty was funny, fun, quick to laugh, exuberant, warm, curious, expressive - he loved to say, "Oh my god, can you believe it?!" And it existential moments, "It is what it is." I spent time him with several times from 2022 until Sunday September 20th of this year. Usually it was for lunch or brunch, but the last time a visit at the hospital. But even with his body failing him, he was warm, was thinking about my comfort, asked me about my life, and still looked as handsome as ever. A year ago or so, I told him how great looked, at 89, and he said, "I better, it's all I've got left!" A great looking man, smart and charming, who more importantly had a huge heart. Beautiful - inside and out. A soulful guy. He was quick to love and quickly lovable. I will miss him and wish I had met him sooner. I cannot be at his service, so I send my thoughts and love to Marcus and to everyone who had the great good fortune to know and love loved Marty.”

“During the early/mid 60s, Marty and I were members of the Playhouse Drama Group of the Henry Street Settlement. Whenever we were on stage together, I knew that if I were to have a memory lapse, Marty would bail me out...appropriately...in character...seamlessly! I think he knew everyone's lines. He definitely had "the gift." We were in contact at the time of his 75th birthday and have stayed in touch ever since. The Henry Street days were some of the best of my life. For the last few years there have been three of us to share memories of those days. Although there are now only two of us still able to do the email/text/telephone thing, Marty will always be present when I take walks down the memory lane that is Henry Street! He had great hair!!!”

“A wonderful friend❤️🙏❤️”

“Marty has been an instrumental part of my world since age 8 when Marc and I first met and became best friends. He spent years coaching baseball along with my dad. He was always there - every practice, every game. He was passionate about baseball but even more so about his son. Across the years he was always there for me even with the geographic distance of me living on the west coast. For 47 years he never missed a birthday card. Staying in touch through Facebook across the years was great and I will miss that. For me, Marty was a coach, a mentor, an avid supporter, and a fan of those he loved. He loved his family, loved life and made the world a much better place. I credit much of who I am today and where I’m at in life based on conversations we had when I was just a kid. A gift I get to take with me for a lifetime that I passed down to my daughter and others in my life. Marty - you will forever be remembered for your positive light and love and I’m lucky to have had you in my life. ❤️”

“My first memory - You purchased and read my novel, Sol y Mar! What a hoot that was especially since you were among my first readers. We connected together with Richard Rios, each having backgrounds and/or connections to the Lower East Side. Although separated by a generation, that difference never seem to have made one. I enjoyed sharing music with you, you drooling over Ava Gardner and even movies. I loved that we "watched" Conclave and Sinners "together" and talked for what seem hours about one of our shared favorite historical characters - Marcus Aurelis! I heard your tears upon the passing of your wonderful wife, Margaret - known to me as Mar y Mar and she even got on the phone once to tell me that she paid no mind to your ramblings over Ava! I honestly wanted to meet you in person, but you shyed away from that idea although we agreed it would be easier to do so if you moved to New Jersey. Well my friend, you moved to Heaven instead. I can only pray that when I get there, there is a seat at your table so that I can personally deliver the news to you that America is safe, our democracy is restored and we can put to rest that which caused us angst, fear and worries and that everything is back in its rightful place for our children and generations of humanity, our mental, spiritual and emotional state of which was/is and shall ever be present in our hearts and minds. Thank you for all the shared tears, laughter and I will keep my promise to you ... I will never lose my laughter. SIncerely, Ileana”

“We first met Marty 50 years ago when he moved into the apartment downstairs from us in our garden apartment in Flushing. Marty and I (Paul) had a rather competitive thing with our respective sports teams. In the late 1970's through 1981, I was an avid Dodger fan and Marty followed his beloved Yankees. The Yankees beat the Dodgers in the 1977 and 1978 World Series much to my chagrin. I got even three years later when the Dodgers prevailed. When the series was going on, we had a contest who could scream louder for their team. When I screamed too loud, Marty would bang on his ceiling and if he got carried away I would stomp on the floor. In 1982, we moved about 15 minutes away and would stop by to visit Marty once in a while. He was always happy to see us. After our sons were born, he always remembered their birthdays and sent them cards every year. When Marty and Margaret married, they lived very close to us. We had the pleasure of celebrating several family functions with them over the years.... our sons' Bar Mitzvahs, and then their weddings, and Marty's birthday parties. A few years ago, we were driving past Marty & Margaret's house and they were outside, so we stopped to chat. When we were ready to leave, our car wouldn't start. We had to wait about an hour for AAA service. If we had to get stuck, that was a good place for it to happen. Sending our deepest condolences. May his memory be a blessing.”

“Marty Ippolito was an instrumental figure in my late father’s life, and although I was too young to fully understand it at the time, I came to appreciate the profound impact he had on our family. I remember accompanying my father into New York City when he would go to what I knew simply as “the program.” Only years later did I understand that he was receiving treatment for addiction and that his journey was often difficult. Through those years, Marty offered my father something that went beyond treatment—support, encouragement, compassion, and, perhaps most importantly, hope. My father was deeply grateful to Marty. He often spoke of the difference Marty made in his life, and I believe the additional years my father was blessed to have were due, in part, to the people who stood beside him when he needed them most. We don't always know how far a kindness reaches. Sometimes the people we help carry that gift forward into the lives of their children and families, long after the moment itself has passed. Marty may never have known just how deeply his compassion touched my family, but his influence became part of my father's story—and therefore part of mine. I will always be grateful that Marty was there for my father. May his memory be a blessing, and may the good he gave to others continue to live on through all the lives he touched.”

“As a cousin from my parents’, aunts’ and uncles’ peer group, Marty was a great link to the culture, and memories of a time before me, but was also a reflection of the love. He was included in the stories of who we are, and he was great at giving his own views and memories. I like to remember him and his playful nature at my wedding. I respect his sense of family and loyalty. I admire the life he made filled with love and connections. The world was better for having him. I am certain of this. He will still be loved, but will also be missed. Fair winds and following seas, Cuz. xo”

“Marty and I were neighbors in Flushing. That was in the mid 70s. Marty introduced Marcus to Ray, my son, who is close in age to Marcus. We all became fast friends. The boys spent a great deal of time together doing all sorts of things. Marty was a great male influence for my son growing up. I was a single mom and Marty was always there for him. Marty and Marcus became family to Raymond and me as well as my immediate family. They were always invited to family functions. One of the highlights was watching Marty dance. God how he loved to dance, and he loved music. The last time I danced with Marty was at his 70th birthday party. What a joy that was as we hadn’t seen each other in a long time and Marcus wanted to surprise him, and boy was he surprised! Marcus was his world, and then his world grew to include his lovely wife Margaret and her family. Marty was a very special man that both my son and I will miss forever. We love you Marty!!”

“I have never met Marty in person. We became friends on Facebook. There were several of us who came friends with him and who had the same opinions about so many things. Once in a while, Marty would send me a messenger message with something he had seen that was funny, or important. He will be missed and I was immensely sad when I heard that he was gone. I am sending my heartfelt condolences to his family.”

“We lived in Queens 41-44 on 44th st. Back in the days when my Aunt Olga would babysit Marty's son Marcus. Marty loved our house parties. He was known to us as "Mama kusha" Man. He loved that song. He would dance to that song and make us all happy with his moves. Google the song Mama Kusha if youve never heard it. It was one of Marty's favorite songs back in the day.”

“OK...for today I'll be first one on the dance floor, but as many/most of you know, my dad was always first! Can't wait to see everyone who can join us next Thursday and reading your wonderful memories of my dad. With love, Marcus”