Page created by: Susan Glatki

Martin Harrity was the father of six children and the grandfather of 10. He was a lawyer who took care of people. He represented people with mental health issues and became their guardian, guardian ad litem, and Roger's monitor. He hiked all the AMC's 4,000 footer mountains after he turned 50. He liked to travel to visit his children who have lived on both coasts and in the midwest. He was a friend to many and a man to be admired. He was generous with his time, his food, his advice, and his humor.

Marty's parents were born in County Mayo Ireland and came to the US to live with family. Marty loved Ireland and traveled there at least once a year for many years. It was on one of the trips to Ireland that he discovered that he had Parkinson's Disease. He was walking down a path and he was picking up speed and couldn't stop. He fell on to the grass on the side of the road and a neighbor came by and helped him up and helped get him to a hospital. The doctor there told Marty his suspicions and suggested he get a specific test when he returned home. Of course the Irish doctor was right and Marty officially was diagnosed with Parkinson's a few years after developing symptoms that didn't seem to fit together. He lived with the Parkinson's for almost 10 years. When he was told to use a walker Marty insisted on using a cane to get around. When he was told to limit his stairs, he insisted that he could get up to his bedroom. And he did until Parkinson's made it impossible. He used his cane, then his walker, and then a wheelchair when going out. He would still be doing so today except covid-19 caught him and wouldn't let go.