Martha F. Gladd, age 72, formerly of Saranac Lake and residing at 9 Talbot Drive in Penfield, NY, passed away on Wednesday, October 2, 2013 at Rochester General Hospital after a brief illness.
Born in Saranac Lake on July 26, 1941, Marty was the daughter of James R. and Adelaide E. (Clancy) Finn.
Marty married Ron Gladd, also of Saranac Lake, on January 3, 1961at St. Bernard’s Church in Saranac Lake. For the past 57 years Marty and Ron have been best friends, enjoying 52 years of marriage together. In addition to Ron, Marty is survived by her son Tom, his wife Michelle (Maloney) and their children Alec, Dylan and Samantha, daughter Leslie, her husband Jim Lajoie, and their children Cylie, Melody, Corey, Sara, Clare and Peter, daughter Hilary and her husband Peter Ross, and daughter Nancy, her husband Derek McLaughlin and their children Kane, Ronald, Derek Jr., and Marion. Marty is also survived by her siblings, Susan Germaine of Logan, UT, James Finn of Cincinnati, OH, Fredrick Finn of Bloomingdale, NY, Richard Finn of Saranac Lake, NY, Steven Finn of Clearwater, FL and Margret Finn of Conway, NH. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, and other extended family members. A devoted wife mother, grandmother and sister, Marty was predeceased by her father, mother and step-mother Edna Finn.
A woman of many interests, Marty excelled at all she undertook. From getting Head Start established in Saranac Lake, to creating costumes for local theater companies, to pottery, to her lifelong connection with St. Bernard’s Church, Marty threw herself fully into any project she immersed herself in. But it was science that really captivated Marty’s imagination. Throughout her life, Marty worked in basic science and medical research. Over the years she was a key member of research teams at Will Rogers, the Cell Science Center, Trudeau Institute, and finished her career at the Center for Excellence in Vaccine Research at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT. Wherever she was working, Marty was always admired for her first class mind and outstanding laboratory presence. She was, in a word, the complete professional scientist.
Calling hours will take place at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake on Tuesday, October 8, 2013 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Bernard’s Church at 12:00 noon on Wednesday October 9, 2013 with the Monseigneur CJ McAvoy officiating.
In lieu of flowers, friends and family members wishing to remember Marty may make memorial contributions to the Center of Excellence for Vaccine Research (CEVR) at the University of Connecticut. Donations can be sent care of Dr. Steven Geary, 61 North Eagleville Road, UConn, Storrs, CT 06269-3089. Checks should be made out to UCONN, with CEVR in the memo section of the check. Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guestbook at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.