In Memory of Curtis Alan Martin

Spouse: Sanae Martin
Children: Audrey
DOB: August 6, 1956
Blessing Date: July 1, 1982
Ascension: April 1, 2025
Seonghwa Ceremony: April 19, 2025 at 12:00 PM MST at Green Acres Mortuary & Cemetery, 401 North Hayden Road, Scottsdale, Arizona 85257
Reception: Reception to follow at the AZ Family Church, 1715 S El Camino Dr, Tempe, AZ 85281. Guests are encouraged to wear white or light-colored clothing, though darker suits or suit jackets are acceptable.
Send Flowers: Green Acres Mortuary & Cemetery the morning of April 19. AZ Floral Exchange is recommended via AzSympathy.com or by calling 480-289-3903
Donations: Donations to your public library would be a special way to honor Curtis

Curtis Alan Martin was born in Sacramento, CA on August 6, 1956 as the second of three children to Harry Martin and Betty Jo Immel. He spent much of his childhood in Denver, CO with his older sister Ann, and younger brother Glen. There were many happy years growing up with cousins from the Immel, Wilson, and Raab families. The family later moved to the Bay Area where he finished high school.

Curtis joined the Unification Church movement in 1974 at 18 years old in Oakland, CA and was Blessed in marriage to Sanae Martin (Yamamoto) on July 1, 1982 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Their daughter, Audrey, was born in 1989.

In 1991, he and his family moved to Los Angeles where he and his wife became pillars of the Los Angeles Family Church community. Curtis was passionate about studying and teaching the scripture and Divine Principle. He and his wife invested deeply in their local community, hosting many gatherings and small group meetings. They never hesitated to host friends, family and missionaries in their home. Curtis was a co-pastor for the Los Angeles Family Church for many years and believed deeply in the power of prayer and meditation.

Curtis worked as a bookkeeper for the church for 9 years and was an accountant for credit unions for 24 years, eventually becoming an accounting manager and CFO. He was passionate about banking with credit unions and the personalized service they provide to their members. He retired in 2015.

Curtis was a lifelong reader, reading broadly and constantly. Some of his favorite books included The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley, and Joan of Arc by Mark Twain. He and his wife volunteered with the Literacy Council in Los Angeles for several years, mentoring adults with English as a second language.

After 30 years in Los Angeles, Curtis and Sanae moved to Flagstaff, AZ shortly after the birth of their first grandchild, James. They became full-time caretakers for James, and later for their granddaughter Emiko (Emi), until James and Emi started preschool. They spent those precious years reading, playing, and gardening together.

One of Curtis’s favorite pastimes was making people laugh. He was always cracking jokes, making funny faces, and sneaking bunny ears in photos. Everywhere he went he built a reputation for being funny and kind.

In February 2025, he was diagnosed with stage 4 gastroesophageal junction cancer. He died peacefully on April 1st in the presence of his wife and daughter. He had a fighting spirit to the very end. He is survived by his wife, Sanae, his daughter, Audrey, his grandchildren, James and Emiko, and his siblings, Ann and Glen. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. He will be greatly missed.