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Martin R. Carbone Sr.

Martin R. Carbone Sr., a longtime resident of Guilford, died peacefully on June 14 with family by his side at Connecticut Hospice, Branford. He was the husband of the late Catherine (Stone) Carbone. Martin was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on Jan. 27, 1932, son of the late Roland A. Carbone and Anne H. (Fontana) Carbone.

He was the loving father of Karen C. Bull (Thomas) of Madison, Kristen A. Daley (Dennis) of Kure Beach, North Carolina; Kimberly A. Atwater of Madison, and Martin R. Carbone Jr. (Kimberley) of Ridgefield. He is survived by nine grandchildren, Bennett Daley, Katherine Bull, Cole Daley, Carolyn Bull, Hayden Atwater, Martin R. “Micky” Carbone III, Courtney Carbone, Colleen Atwater, and Grant Daley. Also, he is survived by two great-grandbabies, Owen Daley and Annie Daley. He was predeceased by a brother, Joseph R. Carbone.

Martin graduated in 1953 from the University of Missouri, where he earned a chemical engineering degree, but his professional career was preceded by 12 years in service to his country. His celebrated speed on the high school track and football field propelled him straight from the college graduation stage to Officers Candidate School with the United States Marine Corps. There he served with the First Marine Division, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines. He rose to the distinguished rank of captain, stationed in Korea during the Korean War until his retirement as a major in 1965. His love of his country never wavered thereafter: every Nov. 10, he celebrated the Marine Corps’ birthday, and his home proudly bore the scarlet Devil Dogs flag.

His active military duty behind him, Martin began his first career with Union Carbide Corporation. In his 32 years of employment there, he earned the position of vice president of sales for the chemical and plastics division, though those who heard him speak of his work know he was most proud of the title awarded by his colleagues, “Marty Nice Guy.” Many of his countless connections grew into lifelong friends that eventually became known as the Camelot Group, which met annually at various locations in the United States for decades to follow.

In 2002, Martin began his 16-year retirement career at Page Hardware in Guilford, in the hardware department but ever the consummate salesman, he soon moved into appliances, where he thrived. He came to regard his coworkers and customers alike as family; he loved seeing them in town as much as they loved his attention to detail and straight-shooting, dedicated approach to his work.

But above all, Martin (or “Pop” as he was known to his grandchildren) enjoyed spending time with his family. He never missed an opportunity to circulate their essays, sports clippings, and news—often in hardcopy—and was an endless font of career advice and encouragement. His booming cheer and proud laugh could be heard at music recitals, graduations, and sporting events alike.

Chatham, Cape Cod, served as the setting for over 35 years of memories and traditions formed with his wife, Cathy, his children, and grandchildren. Every summer sunrise, he could be found raising the American flag, and each evening he would lower it with the help of his grandchildren, teaching them how to fold it with immaculate military precision. He took great pride in his yard, and when he wasn’t working tirelessly on his lawn, he could often be found catching that night’s Green Bay Packers or UConn women’s basketball games or reading one of the countless books stacked atop his coffee table. Martin could walk into any room, on any occasion, and create a genuine human connection. His firm handshake and broad smile will be remembered by all who had the good fortune to know him.

Friends are invited to a Mass of Christian burial celebrated at 11:30 a.m. July 7, at St. George Church, 33 Whitfield Street, Guilford. Burial was held privately. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. George’s Church, Food Pantry, 33 Whitfield Street, Guilford, CT, 06437, YNHH Office of Development, P.O. Box 1849, Dept. of Otolaryngology, New Haven, CT 06508 (www.givetoynhh.org) or a charity of your choice. Arrangements are in care of the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church Street, Guilford. To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.