It is with great sorrow that the family of Gene H. Martenson announces his passing on Tuesday, April 17, 2012, from natural causes. Born in 1928, in Jamestown, N.Y., he was the son of the late Harry and Flora Martenson (Jamestown, N.Y.) and brother of the late Dr. Bruce D. Martenson of Lakewood, N.Y. He was a resident of Swarthmore, Pa., for more than 50 years.
Gene was a 1947 gradu-ate of Jamestown High School and Michigan State University (Phi Kappa Tau), where he studied hotel and restaurant management. He served his country in the U.S. Coast Guard.
He worked in food ser-vice for many years, includ-ing Stouffers and The Colonnade. The majority of his professional life, how-ever, was spent in the in-surance and financial plan-ning field. He was one of the four founders of the Karr-Barth Insurance Agen-cy (Philadelphia, Pa.).
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Martenson found great pleasure in exploring the world and was especially fond of celebrating his Swedish heritage. He was a member the American Swedish Historical Muse-um in Philadelphia, a crewmember of "The Ravnen" of the Leif Eric-son Viking Ship organiza-tion, and behind-the-scenes supporter of the Lucia Fest at Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church in Philadelphia for almost 50 years.
As an ever-giving civili-an and community activist, Martenson was a Rotarian and founder and first race director of the Philadelphia Distance Run, now run by over 11,000 participants annually. In his active rac-ing years, Martenson ran over 15 marathons and 14 triathlons. He was a very active parishioner and ves-try member of the Trinity Episcopal Church in Swarthmore.
It was Gene's passion to know people, keep learning and be involved. As a dedi-cated father and grandfa-ther, he promoted learning at every opportunity. His passion for remaining in-volved continued over the many years Gene and his family spent at Chautauqua Institution.
Gene is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Anne Dutelle Martenson (Newtown Square, Pa.); sis-ter, Shelia Brinkley and husband, Larry Brinkley (Lakewood N.Y.) and sister-in-law, Alta Marten-son (Lakewood N.Y.); daughters: Christine Mar-tenson and husband Gregg Holomakoff (Norwalk, Conn.), Sharon Martenson (Norwich. Vt.), and Lisa Martenson Pauwels and husband, Greg Pauwels (Wyndmoor Pa.); grandchildren include: Anna Rae and Max New-land, Dave, Alan and Amy Holomakoff, Elisabeth and Alexander Hoehn, and Jackson and Marten Pauwels. A daughter, Karen, predeceased him. Several cousins and many nieces and nephews survive him. He loved them all.
A memorial service was held Saturday, April 21, at Trinity Episcopal Church, Swarthmore, Pa. Family and friends were received im-mediately following the service in the Parish Hall.
Internment will take place Friday, Aug. 3, at 2 p.m. in Sunset Hill Cemetery, Lakewood, N.Y., where he will join many generations of the Marten-son Family.
Memorials can be made to the Rotary Club of Swarthmore, Pa.; or Trinity Episcopal Church, Swarthore, Pa.