Obituary of Martin J. Margolin

Written by Martin Margolin, Retired Engineer.

Martin J. Margolin, age 94, of Rockaway, NJ died on February 11, 2025, in his home.

         He was born in Monticello, NY and raised in Hurleyville, NY. He lived in Rockaway Township from 1954 to 1967, then moved to Rockaway Borough. He also kept a winter residence in Hudson, Florida. After attending Hurleyville Public Schools he graduated from Monticello High School in 1946. He received a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree from Pratt Institution in 1951. He served in the US Army Chemical Corps from 1952 to 1954 with duty stations at Englewood Arsenal and Yuma Proving Grounds. He was employed at Picatinny Arsenal from 1951 until he retired in 1986.

         He led a team that developed the 90 mm M590 Canister Round, meeting an urgent requirement to provide an anti-personnel capability for the M67 Recoilless Rifle for the 1^st Cavalry Division in Vietnam. Later he led the development of the 155 mm M795 HE Projectile for the 155 mm Howitzer systems.

         From 1981 until he retired, he was a part of the Army’s management team effort which resulted in a new “smart monitor”, SADARM, which could find and kill armored targets at extreme ranges by common fire.      

         He was a longtime member of the American Legion, Post #333, the Post #344. He also served as a member of the Rockaway Borough Bicentennial Committee and Board of Health.

         He enjoyed golf, at which he was inept, and the games of poker and duplicate bridge, at which he excelled. He was a lifelong and avid reader, a fisherman, and a member of the Rockaway Township Sportsman Association.

         In 1953 he married Helen Jenkins Blaine of Denville, who went on before him in 1995, as well as his daughter, Sharon Veach, step-daughter, June Dufner of Denville, his step-son, George Blaine of Brown Mills, his granddaughter Heather Machner of Brown Mills, and Vicky Vickery of Tuckerton, his great-grandchildren, Adam Stopa of Rockaway, and Christopher Blaine of Wellston, OK.

         He is survived by his cherished grandchildren, Lollie Stopa of Rockaway, Sheila Orf of Barnegat, and Allen Blaine of Wellston, OK; his treasured great-grandchildren, Kelly Wright, Gary Marty Gilbert, Carrie Kelly, Ronnie Gilbert, Melanie Robinson, Valarie Flemming, Edward McCay, Sabrina Vickery, Brett Vickery, Jimmy Stopa, Jonathan Stopa, his caring niece and nephew, Rachel Margolin of Ava, MO and Jacob Margolin of Karmiel, Israel, as well as many great-great-grandchildren and a dear friend, Gail Heredia of New Port Richey, Florida.

         On the day of Marty’s passing, he looked out the window and stated, “Someday it’s going to be a sunny day.” He was in his right mind, so you can ponder what he may have meant.

         His family is so grateful for the care and love that Marty’s caregivers gave him for 5 years, so thank you Lori & Yanira!

         Celebrating Marty's life and encouraging one another in grief, please join us on February 24, 2025 from 4 to 5:30 PM at Bethlehem Church, located at
758 Rotue 10, Randolph, NJ 07869. A service will be held at 5:15 PM, followed by refreshments and good company!