My sincere prayers for you, Marty, and your family Dotty. I pray God provides you all to your needs. I have only ever met a few people from this forum and never Marty. I always know Marty was a very helpful and direct person. I respect that he gave his opinions, based on his experiences, and was always willing to give help to others known or not. I pray for God's grace for you all.
May almighty God be with Marty and his family during this tough time. You will be in my prayers. God Bless.
Memories, memories. Here are a few photos of Marty and Dotty from my files. And here also is my favorite passage from the Bible--Jeremiah 17:14 (Universalized version).
"Heal us O Lord and we shall be healed. Save us, and we shall be saved."
Lew Schneider
Attachments
Images (6)
Like many here, I only know Marty thru the forum.
Years ago, I posted that I was one of those who did not look carefully where I was plugging my DCS WIU into the TIU, and fried that one circuit. I mentioned I was looking for new hardware.
Marty saw the post and immediately chimed in, asked me if I was good at soldiering, PCB work. I answered in the affirmative and he came back with part numbers and a picture of the location of the part that needed replacing. A $200 mistake became a $2.50 mistake.
However, the details were not what was important: It was the willingness to jump in and offer help to someone he didn't know and hadn't chatted with before. Marty even checked in a while later to ask if the repair went okay.
I just wanted to share my brief encounter with Marty. He was and is a fine example that we all should strive to emulate.
My thoughts and prayers to Marty and Dotty.
paraphrasing the line form It's a Wonderful Life....No Man is Poor who has Friends. Mr Fitzhenry is the richest man on Earth. We need more like him. And those of us that have never had the privilege to have meet him are truly the poorer for it.
The Lord Our God will heal Marty. And he will be free of pain in his new body.
Marty wouldn't know my face, but we corresponded a few times via email. One time, a buddy of mine needed a Lionel C&O Hudson manual so I posted a want ad on the forum. Marty emailed me and said he would just send it to me. I offered to pay him for it, but he declined. He reminded me of someone who would go out of his way just to help someone. We need more Marty's -both on and off of the forum.
Prayers for Marty and his wife.
Marty & Dotty You are in my prayers everyday. I am still praying the Almighty God grants you both a miracle.
I had on one or two occasions a chance to talk to Marty about a problem I had. What a fine gentleman he is. He is a walking encyclopedia of O gauge trains.
My wife, Linda, and wish him and Dotty the best. My heart goes out to them.
Orrin
I was only in his company once, the day he received his house from Alex. It was clear at the time this was a man highly regarded, beloved if you will. It is sad to hear of this. The hobby will be losing a great man, I hope we can find some way to cement his legacy for future 3 rail fans.
Marty's legacy has already been cemented in this circle for many years.
As St. Augustine wrote in book 10 of his "Confessions", " As long as one has their memory, any event any relationship is never really over. We can relive and savor precious memories for the rest of our lives". (loose recollection)
Very simply put. This is one GIANT of a man. His knowledge, willingness to share, and welcoming personality touched many of us. I was fortunate to visit Marty's layout on trip to Boston. On my few trips to York, he was always there with a smile and a "hello" to the west coast contingent. My prayers go out to Dottie and the family.
Jeff
Hi Marty.....I don't know you but I will be praying for your return to health also. Luke 1:37
Prayers continuing for both of you from my end.
Prayers, Dottie. For both you and Marty.
this is horrible news.
Meeting Marty, and having opportunity to interact with him at York is one of my finest memories. Truely a giving person. Marty spent a good deal of time teaching me repair, sharing his knowledge while I was working with Vince. Truely a fine and giving man. I’ve met a lot of good folks through this forum, folks who were willing to teach and help. But none finer than my brother in blue.
Marty, and Dottie, may God be with you and your family in the time you have.
Know this, my friend, you will carry on in us all. Through us, those you have touched so warmly, you will live forever.
We love you!
I never meet the man but from what i read.He is a very cool person.I can not find the right words.All I can do is offer my prays to both of you.
Marty and I have been though a lot together and he is truly my brother from another mother. He gave tremendous service to our country when we were both in the service during RVN and later as a highly respected and decorated police officer. And thank God for Dotty who gave so much of herself for years to care for Marty. No words will ever suffice to convey the tremendous loss....but we will meet again down range! Love and prayers my friend. Jim
Attachments
Images (1)
Jim, well put. So glad the two of you are friends. Don
The outpouring of love and prayers for Marty and Dottie during this very difficult time are a testament to how much both of you have met to this hobby and beyond.
Marty is truly a fighter and has fought this battle like the warrior he is. It's almost overwhelming to think of the challenges Marty has had to face with his battle with cancer. Marty could not have had a better partner, advocate and caretaker than Dottie.
My thoughts and prayers are with you both and hope that Marty can live out the rest of his days pain free. Marty is already an institution here at OGR but to those who were fortunate enough to call Marty their friend he will always be remembered as a true Mensch, a Jewish term for a wonderful, caring person who always is willing to help others out of the goodness in his heart.
Steve Tapper
My thoughts and prayers to you both and your families.
No better man then Marty, no better friend, no better police officer. God be with you my friend.
Good evening everyone, Marty and Dotty and friends, just a note saying You All are in our prayers continually. When I returned to the model train hobby in 1996, I watched a VHS Video from O Guage Railroading back when I believe Myron Biggar owned the magazine, (I think I’m correct), and Marty was quite the Operator, Operating a team of Lionel ZW’s, just before Command Control became the game changer. In the video, Marty ran many beautiful passenger trains, he has a Bunch, and one of his maneuvers was changing Locomotives by backing one of the passenger trains onto a siding, then uncoupling the engine and and changing with another to take the train on another fun destination. He called this a “Crowd Pleaser”, so, I just wanted to add to the many kind and gracious remarks from the last 14 pages that Marty was and continues to be, a Crowd Pleaser. I am glad I know him. May the Lord bless you all. We are your Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana Connection. Happy Railroading.
Re-reading the January 1995 issue of CTT as we speak.
I remember being amazed as a 12 year old by the featured layout. It had a turntable, beautiful brass steam engines, and tracks, upon tracks, upon tracks in the passenger terminal. WOW!
Little did I know that this wonderful layout was Marty’s and how much of an influence he would have 25 years later on not only myself but the hobby in general.
My thoughts and prayers continue to be with you and your family...
Other feature articles on Marty's layout can be found in
O Gauge Railroading April/May 2009
O Gauge Railroading Deceber 1991
Train Collectors Quarterly April 1999
Lew Schneider
Wow. Im at a loss of words right now. Ive only met Marty once when he sold me an engine at a York show. We talked on a few occasions via email. Marty, if you can read this I am keeping you in my prayers. God bless you and thank you for being an influence.
His layout is also featured in the new O Gauge Railroading 50th Anniversary Blu-Ray 2-disc set (an outstanding video BTW).
I met Marty two or three times at various events in the Northeast and enjoyed our conversations immensely. Our thoughts and prayers are with you both in this difficult time.
Marty,
I wish you all the best in your recovery, I do understand not posting been a hard year for me also. Get well buddy.
PCRR/Dave
Dear Dotty and Marty,
Christmastide predicts and precedes the Resurrection. This must be a particularly difficult time of year for both of you, recalling memories of happier times. Always remember that the best is yet to come.
May the Lord bless you with comfort, peace and joy in the knowledge of His salvation!
We are witnessing tribute after tribute (14 pages of them so far) to a man who has lived his life well, and has generously reached out to others, some of whom were complete strangers. He has had time to fight his disease, and to make peace, although, by all accounts, he had no apologies to make. Those of us who never had the opportunity to meet Marty Fitzhenry have missed out on what would have certainly been a very pleasant experience. This surely is what we all hope for someday -- to be at peace, even if not free of discomfort, fondly-regarded by many, many people as our days dwindle, with our family at our side lovingly giving us back to our Creator.
His has been an extraordinary life, and those who have shared it are indeed fortunate.
Marty is in a Hospice House. They are managing his pain, (hospice means no more chemotherapy, antibiotics, radiation, IVs, or other life extending measures. Only pain management.) and he is content to be where he is for his final days. The place is only 6 miles from Marty's house, so his daughter, grandson, and myself can visit daily, and spend the night with him in his room if he requests us to. We have known from the time he was diagnosed in May that this would be a step we would have to plan for, and we did. As I said before, with this cancer there's no pulling through, no returning to health, no recovery, no getting well. He never wants me to read him the posts with these sentiments, he says he prefers to face the facts head on without projections of false hope. Now, we sit with him while he sleeps, holding his hand and remembering the good times with him when he's awake.
I'm at a loss for words.
I never knew Marty, but hearing all of the good memories I've heard from others on this thread, I wish I could've. Thank you, Marty, for all that you have done for the hobby. It won't be the same without you.
May God bless you and hold you near Dotty.
Brad
I'm reading this with a heavy heart Dotty. Marty is a special kind of guy, and they don't often come along. I didn't want to face the fact that Marty wouldn't be around, he leaves a void that will never be filled. I will always remember happier times and cherish the time we shared.
May God bless you, Marty. God bless you, Dotty.
Dotty, Please call me when you have a chance. Thanks
Dear Dotty and Marty, it’s painful to hear of Marty’s situation, I found myself reluctantly going to the forum somehow suspecting to hear bad news while wishing for the best. Transitioning to the next plain is very painful for those still here. Although I’ve never spoke with Marty in person, I’ve spoken with him on the phone for about an hour back and forth and I’ve seen him at York and at the NJ Hi-Raiders. I almost got to speak with him at York but he was occupied and then I turned my head and he vanished. At this point a miracle is all that’s left and God is the deciding factor, regardless though you’ve lived a good life and touched more than 14 pages of well wishers, friends and family. I’ll make peace with myself and look forward to seeing you on the other side of the track where I expect you’ll be in charge of troubleshooting O scale trains..Rest and let the rest of us pray for a miracle. May God bless and keep you both.
Marty was my first customer at Right of Way. The beginnings of a long friendship started at the Ice Cream Stand in the Yellow Hall at York. The journey took us thru many adventures including Train America Studios and Lionel Ohio. God bless you Marty and God bless you Dotty and thank you for being an extraordinary caregiver to our beloved friend.
Lou N
So very, very sorry to hear this. May God bless you Dotty, Marty and your families.
Dotty.......I knew this day would be coming, but I am devastated all the same. My prayers and thoughts go out to both of you.
Peter
Dotty -- Again I'm without words, only a lump in my throat and tears that won't flow. My thoughts remain with you and Marty.
It is very comforting to hear that Marty is surrounded by loved ones. I have no other words that really mean much. Best to all of you who are there in person to support him.
