Gerry Martin

Gerry Martin, Watsonville native and lifelong resident, educator, and friend to many, passed away early Tuesday morning, surrounded by family and loved ones. A graduate of San Jose State University, she began her elementary school teaching career in San Bruno, then taught for a year in Baumholder, Germany. She returned to Watsonville where she reconnected with childhood friend, David Martin. After a brief courtship, they were married and began their family and married life in Watsonville.

Gerry spent the next four decades educating youth in Watsonville, as a substitute teacher throughout the Pajaro Valley and at Moreland Notre Dame, where she taught two generations and hundreds of students. She was a skillful teacher, with a particular love for American history, civics, and social studies. Hundreds of Notre Dame students recall her classes with gratitude—and some trepidation. She was famously known for bringing her guitar to class and teaching students the lyrics to “On Top of Spaghetti”, among other greatest hits. In addition to her tenure at Notre Dame, she was involved in numerous educational initiatives and community programs including the Watsonville High School Site Council, Watsonville’s first Farmer’s Market and PVPSA. She was a dedicated volunteer at the Pajaro Valley Historical Association and most recently in the Corralitos Women’s Club.

In addition to traveling the world to visit family and friends, cooking wonderful meals and hosting dinner and birthday parties, organizing trips to museums and the movies, and brunching and lunching with her friends, Gerry was also an avid crafter. She made quilts for new babies, knitted prayer shawls for those suffering illness, and was an enthusiastic participant in the knitted knockers program. After a brief foray into cookie making during Covid, she turned back to sewing and knitting, making upwards of 2000 face masks during the pandemic. She was generous with her time and her talent and touched many people in the process.

Gerry relished her role of grandmother and adopted grandmother, and devoted much of the past 20 years to spoiling and supporting a growing extended family. From ‘Spoiled Weeks with Grammy” which included sugared cereal served in bed each morning, to teaching her charges how to sew, craft or play cribbage, she was always ready for a card game or an extended Monopoly marathon whether it be on the beach, on a train or the kitchen table. Summers were for teaching grandchildren how to make creme brule or profiteroles, pitching tents in the garage for ‘camp outs’ or swimming in the pond at Pinebrook. A fun look into Gerry’s life can be found in a video entitled “Grandma Gerry Makes Beer Can Chicken”

Gerry is preceded in death by her late husband, David Martin. She leaves behind her two children, Matt Martin (Alameda) and daughter Lisa and son-in-law, Bill Kerr (Seaside), as well as three cherished granddaughters, Zoe Martin-Parkinson, Mae Martin-Parkinson, and Madeline Martin, and niece Stacey Grossman of Mill Valley. She will be remembered fondly by the generations of Watsonville residents who were touched by her teaching, her generous spirit, and love of community.

A Memorial Service will be held for Gerry on Wednesday October 2 at 10:30 am at the Ave Maria Memorial Chapel, 609 Main Street in Watsonville. Donations in her memory may be made to Stanford Medical Center.