Pat Martin

Pat Martin, of Parker, Colorado, died on April 28, 2023, at the Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree, Colorado, surrounded by family, friends, and coworkers. His death followed a decade of fighting cancer with the help of his unshakable good spirit, matter-of-fact pragmatism, heroic support from loved ones and healthcare workers, and considerable grit. He was 77 years old.

Pat was born on December 28, 1945, in Lincoln, Nebraska, the second of five children to Don and Barbara Martin. He grew up in Encampment, Wyoming, a small town tucked between mountain ranges in the Platte River Valley. He graduated from Encampment High School in 1964.

After a false start in college, Pat enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1965. He served in Massachusetts, South Korea, Germany, and Italy in security positions until 1969. He returned to Wyoming and higher education, graduating from the University of Wyoming, in Laramie, with a Bachelor's of Science degree in accounting in 1973.

Pat found his first accounting job in Cheyenne, Wyoming, but relocated to Denver in 1974, where he worked for a CPA firm that serves construction contractors. In 1986, he and his colleague Karl Vejvoda purchased the company. The two remained successful business partners until the time of Pat's death.

In 1979, Pat met the love of his life, Sue (née Shepler), whom he whisked away on their second date on a motorcycle with a bottle of red wine strapped to the back. The two were married in 1981, in Denver, and remained so for 42 years, renewing their vows in 2006. In 1985, Pat and Sue adopted their two beloved daughters, Margaret and Elizabeth, both of whom live in the Denver area.

Pat's time abroad in the Army instilled in him a permanent love for travel. With his family and friends, he toured throughout Europe, North America, and beyond, visiting more than a dozen nations and nearly all 50 U.S. states. He returned often to Ravenna, Italy, one of his favorite destinations.

He also returned often to Denver Broncos home games, where he and Sue were season ticket holders for 43 years.

The summer after Pat graduated from the University of Wyoming and each year following, his cohort of accountant graduates and friends joined together for an outdoor adventure in the West. They traversed rivers by canoe and mountains by horseback-later, they stayed in comfortable cabins. In 2022, despite serious health difficulties, Pat attended the group's 50th annual trip in Fox Park, Wyoming.

Pat was preceded in death by his parents, Don and Barbara Martin, as well as his brother Christopher and sister Shelley. He is survived and dearly missed by his wife, Sue Martin; daughters Maggie Martin and Liz Southwell, along with Liz's husband, Joe; brother Mike Martin and Mike's wife, Jennifer; sister Susan Bridges; as well as nieces, nephews, grandchildren, many friends and colleagues, and dog, Sawyer. His ashes are buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery, in Denver.

During the final years of his life, Pat's medical treatment depended critically on blood transfusions. This raised awareness among his family of the importance of donating blood. They ask that anyone who wishes to honor Pat's life locate their local blood bank and donate.