Martin Sussman Obituary
kent, Kentucky, United States
June 01, 1934 - February 19, 2017
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Martin Sussman Obituary
Jun 01, 1934 - Feb 19, 2017
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Sussman, Martin,on February 19th, 2017 Martin Sussman died peacefully in his sleep at age 83 at the home of a family friend in Moss Beach, CA. His death was a result of natural causes. Martin Sussman was born on June 1st, 1934 to Harry and Ida Sussman in Montreal, Quebec, where he was raised with his younger sister Marilyn. Known as "Marty" to all, he led a life of geographic and professional variety, bringing his curiosity, energy, and compassion to many different institutions and contexts. In Montreal he embarked upon a career as a pharmacist and then, after a brief sojourn in California, switched tracks to pursue a Master's Degree in Education. Marty then taught at the Montreal Oral School for the Deaf; he is fondly remembered as a charismatic and charming, if no-nonsense, instructor in English literature. While in Montreal, Marty met and fell in love with his colleague and wife-to-be, Kathy Daniel. When Kathy moved to Louisville, Kentucky to become the Executive Director of the Louisville Deaf Oral School, Marty followed. Soon after he acquired The Vogue, an Art Deco movie theater in the St. Matthews neighborhood that he quickly turned into a successful and much beloved local cultural institution, hosting a wide range of repertory and independent programming that ran the gamut from classic silent films and art house classics to "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." In Louisville, Marty and Kathy were married and raised Drew; their son Matthew was born the next year. Marty became an honorary Kentucky Colonel and a partial owner of the racehorse Laura's Pistolette. As the Vogue prospered, Marty expanded his business dealings, branching into real estate development. In the wake of the opening of a second neighborhood movie theater, The Baxter, Marty moved to California to join Kathy, who had become the Executive Director of Weingarten Children's Center in Redwood City. Marty's move to join his family occasioned a return to his work in deaf education, consulting for the Oberkotter Foundation on three documentary advocacy films, including Dreams Spoken Here, which he created with Mildred Oberkotter and Kathy. Marty's professional accomplishments reflected the curiosity and generosity which were his calling cards, as did his love of travel, sharing meals with friends, and occasionally playing the horses. He chafed at pretension, inviting others in with his sly wit and worldliness while knowing when to laugh along at his own fastidious tastes. He was a loving partner, an engaged father, and a tireless explorer. A memorial service attended by family and friends of the deceased was held at Skylawn Funeral Home and Memorial Garden in San Mateo, California on February 26th. In recognition of his decades of artistic and civic contributions to the cultural life of Louisville, a memorial celebration will be held on Saturday, June 3rd from 2-5 p.m. at the home of family friend Sandy Gulick at 2905 Rivers Edge Road, Louisville, KY 40222. Friends are encouraged to attend, pay their respects, and celebrate Marty's memory.
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