Martin Lewis Epstein

Martin (Marty) Epstein passed away on Friday, February 17, 2023. After a two-year battle with gallbladder cancer, Marty died peacefully in his sleep. He was preceded in death by father, Jack Epstein; mother, Helen Fischler Epstein; and brother, Murray Aaron Epstein. He leaves behind the beautiful love of his life, his wife of 20 years, Robin; as well as his daughter, Helen (David); and his three beautiful grandchildren, Sarah (17), Nate (13), and Lucy Jo (10). Also, his sisters, Rhoda (David) and Doree (Michael) and many loved cousins, nieces and nephews.

Marty accomplished much in his life. He was born in Brooklyn on Thursday, June 18, 1950, and spent his years through high school in Laurelton, Queens, New York. After one year in college in 1968 Marty enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and spent four years in service including a year in Danang, Vietnam in 1970-1971. After his discharge in 1972, Marty spent another year in college before leaving and spending many years working on Wall Street for Merrill Lynch, Salomon Brothers, and Irving Trust Company in various back-office positions. In 1976 he returned to college and received his BS in accounting from Brooklyn College. In 1984 Marty and family decided to leave the NYC area and relocated to Albuquerque.

Marty worked a number of senior accounting positions through the years and in 1995 received his MBA from the College of Santa Fe. In 1998 he picked up an adjunct teaching position at TVI (now CNM) in accounting, and when a full-time faculty position opened in 2001, Marty applied and spent the next 18 years as a full-time instructor. Teaching accounting became the love of his professional life. He retired from CNM in 2018. In 2002 he received his CPA license which was the proudest moment of his professional life.

Another passion was his love of running. He completed two full marathons as well as numerous half marathons, and many ten-mile, 10K, and 5K races along the way.

What fulfilled his life began in 1987 when he got a chorus part in ACLOA's (Albuquerque Civic Light Orchestra Association, now called MTS, Musical Theater Southwest) production of "Shenandoah". From this point forward, Marty worked on many numerous productions around Albuquerque. He directed more than 50 shows at the Vortex Theatre, the Adobe Theatre, West End Productions, Albuquerque Little Theater, and others. He acted, stage managed, and designed sound for many more productions numbering close to 200. For 30 years he was on the board of directors of the Vortex Theatre and only retired from that organization when his illness needed more attention in 2021. He was proud of his taking the time to work with many performing arts organizations and helping them clean up and better understand the way finances worked in a non-profit organization.

Please make donations in Marty's name to your favorite community theater which are the cultural life blood of our society.

Marty’s family would like to say thank you to UNMH and to UNMCCC for their excellent care of him during his illness.

Marty Epstein’s memorial will be held at the Vortex Theater on July 16, 2023 from 2-5pm. Please come celebrate his life with us.