Gary Martin Memorial Music Fund

For many years, I would pull into the parking lot for zero-period jazz band at 6:00 a.m. and see Gary Martin’s car already there. He’d be waiting to greet me as we walked into the band room at that ridiculously early hour each day.

It all began when Gary reached out to me in my role as Director of Bands at Jackson High School. He introduced himself as a retired musician who wanted to volunteer in a band classroom and support young musicians. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but his warm and genuine personality won me over immediately, and I invited him to come see how he could be involved.

It didn’t take long to realize that Gary was something special. Not only did he provide an incredible amount of support, but he quickly became a beloved figure among our students. Mr. Martin was our go-to source for jazz trivia, and students took great pride in trying to stump him with music he hadn’t yet heard. More often than not, they’d discover something new and couldn’t wait to share it with him.

Gary gave so much to our program—his time, his knowledge, and his generosity. From mentoring students and introducing them to new music, to helping secure funding that supported our growth, his impact was profound. Because of that support, we were eventually able to grow to four full-sized jazz bands.

Gary showed up every day—except when he and Sue were off on one of their incredible worldwide adventures—and became a cornerstone of our program, our students’ experience, and our community. When he and Sue moved to Arizona, it was a tremendous loss for all of us. Even so, his legacy continues to live on through the resources and opportunities he helped create.

Gary loved being with the kids. The kids loved being with Gary. And I will always be grateful to have had such a wonderful friend by my side for so many years.

Lesley Moffat
Director of Bands | Heatherwood Middle School