Marty was interviewed by Andree Hurst in August 2024. In 1955, when he was five years old, he moved with his family to a home with a pear orchard in Lafayette. His memories of growing up here include exploring a large culvert that went under the newly-opened Highway 24 and being called home to dinner when his Mom rang a cowbell, beginning his life-long interest in singing and playing musical instruments at an early age, and working part-time jobs as a busboy, gas station attendant, and ice cream scooper. Marty remembers when one could go to Freddie’s Pizza, Chaps, and Dan’s Restaurants, as well as the Park Theater, where he saw “Journey to the Center of the Earth” in 1959.
Marty, we grew up in the best of times and in one of the best places on earth. Lafayette in the 50’s & 60’s was the place to be. Little did we know, until now, just how special it was. Growing up here would have such a great impact on who we have become today…
We moved to 3932 No. Peardale Drive in late 1966, becoming neighbors of Ann and Elmer Brinckerhoff and their children, whose house quite recently was demolished to create a lot on which Giant’s Buster Posey built his home. It was a very friendly neighborhood: when Ann Brinckerhoff in 1967 was circulating a petition for the incorporation of Lafayette, she educated me about the importance of Lafayette becoming a city. Soon thereafter, inspired by Ann, I went to work promoting incorporation of Lafayette, became one of twenty candidates, all pro-incorporation, and then went on after election to serve as Mayor and Councilman for 8 years. So, the Brinckerhoffs changed my life and shaped the formative years of our city.
Marty mentions a next door neighbor whom he and his siblings annoyed frequently because “Mr. Martin” was not fond of children. When Ronnie Coons (3960 No. Peardale) and our daughter, Laurie, went to Vallecito School and would cut through Sheldon Martin’s side-yard to eliminate the long walk in traffic on Upper Happy Valley Road, Mr. Martin was so annoyed that he refused to allow them to take the short-cut, putting them back in traffic! They were 9 years old. Mostly sweet memories.