Son of John and Ruby White Curran, Marty was born on April 4, 1927 in Moira, NY. He enlisted in the Navy upon graduating from high school and served on the troop transport U.S.S. Thurston, participating in the naval campaign against Japan in 1944 and 1945, seeing action in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Discharged in 1947, he enrolled in Clarkson University where he met a young teacher from Potsdam College, Eleanor Emogene (Emmy) Buckley, who became his wife in 1948. In 1950, Marty was again called upon to serve his country during the Korean Conflict, and was based out of Jacksonville and Guantanamo on the destroyer U.S.S. BearSS.
Upon his discharge in 1952, the now growing family settled in Alfred while he pursued his studies, receiving his Master’s Degree in Ceramic Engineering in 1956. His research resulted in development of a modified rotary kiln for high temperature calcining processes for rare earth materials. The test facility he built in Alfred Station became Alfred Ceramic Enterprises, Inc, where he researched and manufactured materials for the steel and electronic industries. He was highly sought after for ceramic materials consultations, and engineered many plants utilizing his designs in places as far away as Alaska and Kuwait.
In the mid 50’s Marty developed deep ties with the Hudson Valley, starting with the establishment of several quarry sites including the Northeast Solite site in Saugerties, and oversaw the installation and engineering of the rotary kilns there which are still in operation. In that same period he oversaw and performed the sample testing at the brick testing lab in East Kingston for the last 3 years of its existence, travelling by air taxi from Hornell to Kingston bi-weekly. He had met many locals in Ulster county, and held the land there in high regard.
Marty was an avid skier and ballplayer, pitching his last game on a local softball team when he was 81 years young. His love of skiing became a business when he and Emmy opened “The Skimeister” in 1963 at the former Rodger’s Machine Works, now the site of the Alfred Post Office. Soon outgrowing that space, he purchased and renovated the property at 3 N. Main St, and the business became Alfred Sports Center. During the Seventies, the couple operated Happy Valley Ski Center in Alfred, which gave hundreds of local people an opportunity to learn and enjoy the sport of skiing and ski racing. Another venture was added in 1999 on the West University side of the property, West Side Wine & Spirits LLC. Both stores relocated to 43 N. Main St. after a fire in 2009.
Marty always enjoyed being with young people, and loved teaching his children and his grandchildren everything from carpentry to sports. As one Grandson put it, “Grampa knows EVERYTHING!” He had extraordinarily patient kindness for babies and animals, but none at all for politicians, braggarts, laziness or ignorance. He believed one should never stop learning and never stop exercising both mind and body. He was a man of honor and integrity, and wanted nothing more than to be able to take care of his family.
Besides his beloved wife Emmy, whom he lost in 2000 after caring for her lovingly during her battle with Alzheimer’s at the home they built on Waterwells Road, he was predeceased by a brother Philip Curran and his wife Bea of New Hampshire, a sister Polly Bock and her husband Fred of Schenectady, and two nephews, Ronnie and Dannie Bock.
In 2004 he married long time friend Patty Spaine Harvey, who stood by him faithfully during his illness. She survives him, along with daughter Shelley (Ken) Blakey of Jacksonville, Fl.; daughter Kathy (Ronnie) Snyder and their sons Cale and Kelly of Alfred Station and Gabe of Andover; son Phil (Len Rohr) of Alfred and their daughters Cady Curran (Chris) McCarty of Winchester Va. and Sarah Rohr (Brian) Payne of Freeville, NY; son Mike (Eileen Olsen) of Saugerties, NY and their sons Ian and Ryan, and Andrew who lives in Boston; son Pat (Jen Allen) of Hornell and his children: Brittany (Mike) Studley, Casey Curran of Hornell, Kelsey Curran in Alexandria, VA, Riley in Rochester, and Colby (USMC); and son Chris Curran and his son Ethan and companion Daffney Clarke. He has 2 great grandchildren, Evelyn and Finnegan McCarty, and a step-great granddaughter Katelyn Paine.
He is also survived by his step children: Kenneth(KC) and Sally Harvey; Jack (Mike) and Debbie Harvey; Patrick (Hoss) and Tammy Harvey; and Sally Jo Norton, along with 9 step grandchildren and 13 step greatgrandchildren.
Marty never believed in drawing attention to himself and hated funerals, so as per his wishes, there will be no calling hours. A burial service will be held on Sunday October 22 at the MacCrea/Curran Cemetery on Waterwells Road, Alfred at 1:30 followed by an Irish Wake at Muhleisen’s Restaurant in Almond.
Final arrangements are under the direction of Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Hornell NY. In lieu of flowers, remembrance donations may be made to A.E. Crandall Hook & Ladder Company of Alfred, PO Box 582, Alfred, NY 14802.
Online condolences or remembrances of Martin are welcomed at www.bishopandjohnsonfuneralhome.com.
