Martina Todd

Marti was a life-enhancer, on the lookout 24/7 for ways to make life better for other people. A woman of great compassion, understanding and kindness. A lifelong educator. And unforgettable. She left her native New York decades ago, but whenever I visited it with her, strangers would hail her - people who remembered her from her youth. She leaves a big hole in so many people's lives.

Mrs Todd was a wonderful, inspirational woman - I have so many fond memories of her as my field hockey coach at BHS (1978-1982) - those yellow wellies!! She had a fantastic, straight-talking approach with us and was loved and respected by us all. My sympathies to her family.

A great teacher, colleague and friend. She made a difference in the world.

Condolences to the family

My condolences to the family on the loss of a very special lady. Marti was a marvel to watch in action - she embraced life to the fullest and enjoyed her role on earth, in whatever task she became involved with. May she rest in peace with her beloved husband John.

Marti was a very special lady..She was talented, kind, and so smart for her years. She knew how to work fancy computer programs before they were mainstream. She was always willing to lend a creative helping hand as she did so many countless times for me and for the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra to help build their audience participation. She was there for over 20 years or more. She and I worked together on the special events committee for 14 of those years. Over those years we became very good friends and shared many of life's challenges. She loved her family so much and would go to the end of the earth for them. The family is so blessed to have had such a loving and generous mother/grandmother. I will miss her dearly. RIP my friend.. I am sure will will meet up again some day..

Marty was a next door neighbor in Beaconsfield and was full of life. I will always remember her.

Dear Marty's family,
As a docent at the National Gallery of Canada, I had the great privilege of knowing Marty when I joined that group. She was so welcoming and supportive.
Once I got to know her, I realized she was a great individual. She expressed so much kindness, intelligence, creativity, compassion, energy, life, enthusiasm... and many others.
It is sad to see the ones we love leave us but we can be so grateful for having know her. Wishing you to express her beautiful qualities so that you continue to feel her presence.
Thinking of you all,
Mariefrance Toffin

Marti and her family rented our Vancouver home 1966-67 while my father took us to Florence , Italy during his sabbatical year from UBC's Fine Arts Department. I was 6 or so and only reunited with the Todd family in the late 80's when Bruce showed up to teach at UBC. My mom , Beth, embraced Bruce as the 'Todd' rep and welcomed him into our home and he was a frequent visitor for kitchen parties. Having reconnected with Bruce, how could I not want to meet Marti and family once I landed in the Ottawa area.
When I moved to Chelsea, QC in 1994, I indeed hooked up with Marti and we hung out regularly since then. Marti was someone you could not even create in your imagination. She was highly intelligent, totally non-judgemental , knew everything about everyone and was curious about them. She had a comment about it all and said it with a sparkle in her magnificent eyes. This, added to her NY accent and her way of talking out of the side of her mouth, made for great tea time chats. Marti was kind of a surrogate Mom to me and helped me through my mother's recent death with kindness and wisdom. Given my dad's art history background, Marti knew that the McNairns - though former 'landlords'- would be in her life and I was 'it'. My partner Susan and I were often invited to Marti's famous American Thanksgiving dinners, a few rounds on the back 9 at the Royal Ottawa, National Gallery tours and parrot petting in her back sunroom.
Marti's wisdom and knowledge, her stream of consciousness livingroom conversations, her contraptions in the kitchen to catch invading species or in her basement to stop running pipes, discussing how to chop down her beech tree before it crashed on the house and then picking up the branches together after the timely planned removal all were part of the sheer fun and joy of hanging out with Marti.
More recently, we sat together to go over prints and drawings from my family collection and she knew all the artists and their relevance or lack there of. We talked art, trees, real estate, teaching, grief, and her approaching 90th birthday which she kind of tossed aside. Most recently, not long before her death, we talked again about her 90th birthday and how she now felt. She said something like this in her inimitable voice: 'It is what is it is and you just do what you can til it's over...it has been good, what can I say?,"
I miss Marti and will miss all our future chats sitting in those sunken livingroom sofas...there is so much still to discuss and Marti had all the answers even though, in her very humble way, she would say something like, 'Take it or leave it, for what it's worth'.
After our last visit, she walked me to my car, waited for a quiet moment and gave me a hug thanking me for coming over and then gave me a kind of farewell pat on the shoulder. She walked back to her driveway and waved me goodbye.
Marti Todd, for what it's worth, you were worth so much to so many and you will be sorely missed by us all.

Dear Diane, Andrew and family.
Please accept my condolences in the passing of your mother.
Marti was an amazing woman.
She ran the volunteer program "Art in View" while I ran the the volunteer program "Wednesday Morning Lecture Series" at the National Gallery of Canada. She was always supportive and helpful to me.
We kept in touch by phone until her passing. I will miss her.
However, she has earned her rest.
May she rest in peace.
Sidney

Mrs. Todd was amazing. Remembering her from Brownies and art. So sorry for your loss. Stay in touch sminette @minn.net