Martha M. "Marty" York

Martha M. York, 94, passed away March 23, 2015 surrounded by her family just two weeks before her 95th birthday. She was born Martha Mary McGann in Providence, RI on April 6, 1920 to Mary (Maggie) Ann and George McGann. Martha (Marty) graduated from Rogers High School in Newport, RI and married Arthur York in 1941. They first met on a blind date just after Arthur finished naval basic training in 1938, and, by accident, they ran into each other on the street in Washington, DC, where she worked as a secretary. It was love at second sight. While Art served in the Navy, they traveled widely. The family settled in Albuquerque in 1957, where they raised their four daughters. Marty and her husband entertained extensively: As an early adapter of Julia Child's cookbooks, her cooking was legendary. Each of her children remember their birthdays when they could request any meal they wanted, ranging from Baked Alaska to Chili Rellenos. During summers, she often drove her daughters by herself (with the older ones navigating) along Route 66 back to Rhode Island. Marty was a devout Catholic, and she helped support the building of Our Lady of Fatima and Our Lady of Assumption Churches in Albuquerque. During retirement, Marty and Art traveled annually to Mexico. They developed close relationships with an international group of friends while sailing on the Pacific Ocean in the trimaran Art built. They moved to Silver City, NM in the 1970s and had a rich life filled with friends, entertaining in the passive solar house they built themselves. In 2004, Marty and Art returned to Albuquerque to live at La Vida Llena. They enjoyed the community and loving care of the staff. Marty was physically active her entire life, and she particularly enjoyed the family swimming pool, Jack LaLanne, and early gym membership. Her oldest daughter, Anne, loved baseball and even convinced Marty to play when she was six-months pregnant with her third daughter, Susan. Much to Anne's surprise, she drove the ball solidly but put her foot down when asked to run the bases. An avid walker throughout her life, she continued at La Vida Llena and also began practicing tai-chi and chair yoga. Marty is preceded in death by her husband, Arthur York; her parents; brothers, John and George McGann; sisters, Helen and Barbara McGann, and sisters-in-law, Rose McGann, Jean and Alice York, and Dot Rogers. She is survived by daughters, Anne York and husband Harvey Friedman, Kathleen York Haaland and husband David Haaland, Susan York and husband Chris Worth, Wendy York, and son-in-law Steve McCue. Marty is also survived by her grandchildren, Ryan York Haaland, Maggie York-Worth, and Alex York McCue, as well as her husband's youngest brother, Gordon York, his wife Hazel, and many loving nieces and nephews. The family is deeply grateful to Dr. Suzanne PiA�on, the remarkable staff of La Vida Llena, Kathi Billman, Father Ralph Herrera, and Hospice de la Luz for their loving care of Marty. A Catholic mass will be held Saturday, April 11, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. in the La Vida Llena Chapel, 10501 Lagrima de Oro Rd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111. A Memorial Celebration will follow at 2:00 p.m. in Carter Hall at La Vida Llena. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Arthur, Martha and Alice York Endowed Scholarship (payable to the UNM Foundation): 700 Lomas NE, Two Woodward Center, Albuquerque, NM 87102. FRENCH - University 1111 University Blvd. NE (505) 843-6333