Martin Becker

Martin Joseph Becker, PhD, age 96, died peacefully on Saturday, November 1, 2014 in Erie after a brief illness.

Martin resided at St. Joseph’s Apartments in Erie. He and his wife, Jeanne, moved to Erie in September, 2012 to be closer to their daughter, Julia, her husband John, and their two children, Noah and Marni. His beloved wife, Jeanne, died in May, 2013

Martin was born in New York, NY, on August 24, 1918. He was the only child of Russian immigrant parents, and was raised in Brooklyn, NY. He attended public and private schools in New York, and graduated from the City College of New York. As a young adult, Martin had several jobs in New York City, and many adventures all across the United States, including Alaska, and the states of Maine and Washington. He also traveled abroad in Europe. As a young scholar searching for a faith, he converted from Judaism to Christianity, and then to Catholicism. He eventually earned a Master’s Degree in Teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University and then a PhD in History from Fordham University.

Martin was introduced to Jeanne Filion on a blind date in 1959. It was love at first sight and he asked her to marry him on the second date. They married six weeks later and settled in White Plains, NY. Martin taught at Our Lady of Good Council High School in White Plains, as well as Pace University. The family moved to Ogdensburg, NY in 1974 where Martin taught and was the Chairman of the History Department at Wadham’s Hall Seminary for several years. Martin was well loved by the Ogdensburg Community, and was known for his letters to the editor, his story-telling, and his wonderful church readings at St. Mary’s Cathedral.

Martin and Jeanne were married for 54 years. Although he was greatly saddened by the loss of his wife, Martin enjoyed the last years of his life in Erie. He loved going for walks, reading, and time spent visiting with family and new friends. He was embraced, welcomed and admired by John and Julia’s friends, and the St. Joseph’s Community. He especially enjoyed the parties, gatherings and family meals, often entertaining all with his stories, limericks, his wit and his knowledge of history and religion. His mind and memory were intact until the very end of his life.

Martin is survived by his daughter, Julia Bongiovanni and her husband John, of Erie; his sons, Ted Becker and his wife Laura, of Haverhill, Mass., and Peter Becker and his wife, Laura, of Austin, TX; and six grandchildren: Noah and Marni Bongiovanni of Erie, Katherine and Allison Becker of Haverhill, and Isabel and Martin Becker, of Austin.

Family and friends may call at St. Andrew Church, 1116 West 7th Street in Erie on Thursday November 6th from 3 p.m. until the Mass of Christian Burial at 4pm. A memorial service is planned at a later date in Ogdensburg, NY and burial in Champlain, NY at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Villa Maria Elementary School, 2551 W. 8th St., Erie, PA 16505 or St. Mary’s Church, 86 Church St., Champlain, NY 12919.

Julia and John would like to thank all of their friends for their love and support in caring for Martin, and for always including him at so many of their gatherings. They especially thank Dad’s friends, Hope and Paul DeSante, who spent time with and cared for Martin in so many ways, the Cook Family, who spent time with Martin and brought him meals, and the Liszka Family who treated Martin like a family member. Also a special thanks to Dr. Lin at LECOM’s Institute for Aging and the staff on the rehab unit at Millcreek Community Hospital for their great care of Dad. Arrangements entrusted to Burton Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 602 West 10th St.