Martin Trotsky
Martin “Marty” Trotsky, a wise and witty man who detailed his 100 years with the graceful agility of a person half his age, passed away Jan. 1, 2019. He was 100. Rabbi Joe Black, assisted by singer Steve Brodsky, officiated at the Jan. 4 service held at Temple Emanuel. Interment followed at Emanuel Cemetery. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.
“Martin Trotsky was a force of nature and a friend to everyone he met,” his family said. “He will be missed dearly.”
The IJN interviewed Mr. Trotsky this past April, shortly after his 100th birthday; his profile appeared in the IJN’s 105th large size commemorative magazine, June 25, 2018.
He was born April 3, 1918, in New Haven, Conn, to Barney and Sarah Trotsky. He was the youngest of three children.
At age 12, after his father died, he never dreamed he would ever leave Connecticut or go to college.
However, Marty’s standout talent as a talented basketball and baseball player attracted the attention of the CU baseball coach, who recruited him to CU.
This stroke of good fortune changed his life.
Trotsky met Gloria at CU. They married on Dec. 19, 1944, at the Hebrew Educational Alliance and celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary on Dec. 19, 2018.
His accomplishments and accolades at CU were immense. An All Conference shortstop on the baseball team that won 25 consecutive games, he also was a leader on the college basketball court.
Trotsky graduated with a business degree from CU.
He enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1942 and served as a major in the South Pacific.
In 1951, he formed Waco Scaffolding and Equipment Company, which he led and eventually passed down to his son Jim, who joined the business in 1970.
Past president of the Scaffolding Industry Assn., Marty was a founding director of Colonial Bank.
Marty and Gloria Trotsky were supporters of CU, Temple Emanuel and the larger Jewish and secular communities.
The Trotskys loved traveling around the world, especially to Hawaii and Scottsdale, Ariz.
An enthusiastic golfer, Trotsky was a board member and past president of Green Gables Country Club, where he and Gloria made many new friends over the years.
He enjoyed cribbage, bridge, looking at his emails, playing games on his computer and iPad and seeing his friends every week until his death.
Martin Trotsky is survived by his wife Gloria Trotsky; children Linda Stevenson and Jim (Barbara) Trotsky; grandchildren Kelli (Evan) Pfaff, Kevin (Nikki Braziel Solovy) Trotsky, Michelle (Doug) Striker and Kari (Dr. Jue) Cao; great-grandchildren Levi Pfaff, Elias Striker, Isaac Striker, Aviva Pfaff and Maddox Cao; and brother-in-law Dr. Stanley Talpers.
Contributions may be made to the Martin and Gloria Trotsky Family Foundation, c/o Redstone Bank; Temple Emanuel and the Robert E. Loup Scholarship Fund at the JCC.
Copyright © 2019 by the Intermountain Jewish News
