Martin B. Smith died peacefully on April 26, 2012 of complications of Parkinson’s disease.

     He is survived by Joan, his wife of 59 years and one day; daughters Catherine (Carl Hu) and Karen (Paul De Marco); granddaughters Cindy and Abby Hu; grandson James Allen (Kristen Dehn); and three great-grandchildren (Anda, Mykka and Sasha Allen).

     Marty was a proud newspaperman. He reported on California politics for the McClatchy Newspapers for more than 20 years, culminating in his appointment as the newspaper chain’s political editor. Ever faithful to his roots, he read several newspapers a day as recently as a couple of days before his death.

     Wherever he lived, be it Sacramento or Bainbridge Island, he was always a part of a group of mostly like-minded men with whom he could talk politics and current events.

     His devoted family and friends hope there are plenty of newspapers in heaven.

     A memorial service was held Sunday, April 29 at

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church on Bainbridge Island. Plans for a memorial service in Sacramento are pending.

     In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.