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Louis Martini, family doctor

Louis Wm. Martini, 86, of Springfield, Delaware County, and Naples, Fla., a family physician who practiced in Philadelphia and then Upper Darby, died Thursday, Feb. 4, of pancreatic cancer at home.

Louis Wm. Martini
Louis Wm. MartiniRead more

Louis Wm. Martini, 86, of Springfield, Delaware County, and Naples, Fla., a family physician who practiced in Philadelphia and then Upper Darby, died Thursday, Feb. 4, of pancreatic cancer at home.

For more than 40 years, Dr. Martini cared for his patients in an attentive, personal manner. He retired in 1994 after experiencing health problems.

"He did everything for his patients, from delivering their babies to being there to comfort them at the end of their lives," his family said.

Several of the children he delivered were inspired by his example and became physicians themselves, his family said.

Dr. Martini started out by assisting Dr. C. Paul Snyder at his ear, nose, and throat practice on Rittenhouse Square. From there, he moved to first-floor offices in the family home at 159 Ashby Rd. in Upper Darby. The family lived upstairs.

Dr. Martini had a very early claim to fame: He was the first baby born in Shamokin, Pa., after the clock struck midnight for New Year's Day 1930. To be precise, he made an appearance at 12:05 a.m.

His parents, James and Antoinette Martini, separated, and Dr. Martini moved to Philadelphia to attend Central High School. While there, he resided with his four aunts, the Gedman sisters - Agnes, Anna, Emily, and Sister Camillus Marie, a member of the Sisters of Mercy. "They were Rosie the Riveter women," said his son, Louis Wm. Jr. "They didn't have a lot of money, but they took good care of him."

He graduated from Central and earned a bachelor's degree from Pennsylvania State University, took graduate courses at Cornell University Graduate School, and received a doctor of osteopathy degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

While at Penn State, he became a member of the Omega chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity.

Dr. Martini was board certified in family practice and a fellow of the American College of General Practitioners.

He was an active civic volunteer who was honored for his contribution with a lifetime membership in the Chapel of the Four Chaplains, an organization that recognizes members for service above and beyond the call of duty.

In 1957, Dr. Martini married Charlene Cornell. The couple had two children. For the last few years, they split their time between Springfield and Naples.

Dr. Martini enjoyed traveling with his family to Hawaii and the Caribbean. He was a regular at the International Hot Air Balloon Festival in Albuquerque, N.M., where he went aloft with balloonists from all over the world.

His favorite things were spending time with family and watching Penn State football when Joe Paterno was coaching. He and Paterno were friends, his family said.

A cheerful man who loved a good chuckle, he told his friends, "Remember me with joy and laughter, or don't remember me at all," his family said.

Besides his son, he is survived by a daughter, Lorri Ann, and a grandson.

A visitation at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, will be followed by an 11 a.m. Funeral Mass at St. Kevin Church, 200 W. Sproul Rd., Springfield. Interment is private.

Donations may be made to the Penn Medicine Friends Fund, 3535 Market St., Suite 750, Philadelphia 19104.

bcook@phillynews.com

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