Reverand Paul Frederick Martz

Reverend Paul Frederick Martz, of Saranac Lake NY, passed away on June 22, 2025 at Elderwood Nursing home in Lake Placid with his wife Patricia by his side. He was 81 years old.

Paul was born in Dayton, Ohio on July 22, 1943. He grew up in the Dayton area and attended The Defiance College where he met Patricia. He graduated in 1966 and went on to attend Boston University Seminary, graduating with a Masters degree in 1968. Paul and Patricia married and began raising their family in NH while he served his first parish, Francestown Community Church.

Throughout his 39 year career, Paul also served churches in Jamesport, NY, Waitsfield, VT, Brewer, ME, and Auburn, ME. Besides ministering to the people of his parishes, Paul’s career was notable for his volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity, leading trips to hurricane damaged communities, and taking part in an educational trip to Israel in the 1980s. Also central to his ministry was his participation in many community-oriented events such as walks for AIDS and to end world hunger. In his free time, Paul enjoyed woodworking, non-fiction reading, and many DIY projects, hobbies that continued into his retirement.

Upon retirement, Paul continued his ministry as a volunteer hospital chaplain in Lewiston, ME before making the Adirondacks his home. He and Patricia began visiting the region in the 1970s while raising their family. They took their daughters on annual summer trips throughout the park, exploring different state campgrounds, mountains, and lakes. As an Adirondack resident, Paul gave back to the community as a supply minister at area churches and by conducting services at nursing homes. He was also a volunteer with the 90-miler race, and a volunteer with the Rte 3 roadside clean-up committee for his neighborhood at Coreys.

Paul is survived by his wife Patricia Martz (Warren), his daughters, Rebecca Griffin and her husband Jeffrey of Rehoboth Massachusetts, Emily Martz and her partner Matt Ellis of Saranac Lake NY, his loving granddaughters Elizabeth Griffin and her fiance Nicholas Rivelli of Warwick, RI, and Caroline Griffin of Rehoboth, MA. He is also survived by his brothers and sisters-in-law, Michael and Cheryl Warren of Howard, NY, and R. Scott and Joan Warren of Bartlett, NH and New London, CT, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. A service in Paul’s memory will be held at Keene Valley Congregational Church on Saturday, June 28 at 4:00pm with a reception to follow.

In Lieu of flowers, Memorial donations in Paul’s name may be directed to johnbrownlives.org (John Brown Lives! A Freedom Education and Human Rights Project) or ncpr.org (North Country Public Radio). Family and friends can also share their condolences and memories at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.