Martin K. O’Dea, 75, of Harrington Park, NJ, passed away on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. Beloved husband to Kathleen A. (nee Friery). Loving father of Peter and his wife Kelly of Worcester, MA, Christopher and his wife Carrie of Dobbs Ferry, NY and Bryan and his wife Denise of Ramsey, NJ. Proud grandfather of Katie, Liam, Maggie, Kevin, Mary, Finnegan, Jane, Keira, Aerin and Rory. Dear brother of Joseph (late Dolores),Ann James (late John), Eileen Riordan (Daniel) and the late Maureen Flood (late Frank) and late Clare Grothe (late Harry).
Marty grew up in the Bronx and was a devout student who believed that the quantity of schools attended would help balance out his attendance in the school of hard knocks. A graduate of St Simon Stock and All Hallows in the Bronx, Marty continued his journey in higher education with a handful of detours, graduating three decades later from St Peter’s college.
Marty dedicated his life to service. He was drafted to the US Army at the age of 19 in October 1966. He was deployed to the Vietnam War from September 1967-August 1968. After he returned home from the Army, he worked for General Motors for a time. He and a friend would take the train downtown to 59th Street and that is where he met Kathleen Ann Friery. It took many trips on the train to work up the nerve to finally speak to the most beautiful girl on the train. They were married in September of 1970.
Martin was hired by the Port Authority Police Department in July 1973. He was a police officer at the George Washington Bridge. He enjoyed being a cop and had many great friendships with his fellow officers.
Marty’s dedication to his family, friends and community was unquestionable. Whether it be through coaching every sport imaginable, enjoying extended ‘lunches’ with friends and vacationing with his bride in Aruba, Saratoga or the beach. He never missed a St Patrick’s Day parade or Thanksgiving dinner with his extended family of 100+. Marty lived a full lifetime despite leaving us too soon.
These days, the word legend gets thrown out casually but how many can say they went to the Seminary, guarded Lew Alcinder and went to Vietnam all in the span of 5 years!
Visiting hours are Friday 4-8 PM at Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale, NJ. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday at 11 AM at St. Anthony’s Church, Northvale.
In lieu of flowers or donations, the next time you see a nurse, doctor, police officer or fireman, tell them ‘thank you’ or buy them a drink. Marty would have loved that.
Gone way too soon for sure. To know Marty was to love him and when you were in his company you always felt that love. Although we will mourn his loss I know he would want us to celebrate his life. I’ll be picturing him up there having a drink with Jerry, Tom and Margaret looking down on us and smiling. Farewell our friend, we know you got to Heaven well before the devil knew you were gone.
I attended St Simon Stock with Marty and a host of other “Bronx Guys” too numerous to list here.
He was a good friend and a stand up guy. My condolences to his family and friends. God Bless.
We are sending our deepest sympathies to Kathy and the entire O’Dea family. Marty was a great guy and loved by so many.
Dear Kathy and family,
We are so very sorry. Marty was a Pilar of strength, love, and good humor. He was such a good friend to Jack and loved by our family. We will keep all of you in our prayers because we know how much he will be missed. May God hold him in the palm of His hands.
Great man and a great Coach. God bless the O’Dea family.
The whole O’Dea family has made the human race better in many ways and Marty was no exception to that credo. May he guard Lee Alcindor again but not on the basketball court! Hugs and love to all O’Deas, the LeBeau family
Marty was my next door neighbor and classmate through SSS elementary school. His parents were Irish immigrants making their way in the Bronx, as were mine. He came from a great family and left behind a great family. He led a good life. RIP my friend.