Memories of John by T. Addison

 

Although John and I grew up in the same small town, we were never very close until the summer of my Freshman year at Michigan, and his Senior year at Michigan State. During that summer we both worked at Camp BaTaWaGaMa and dated friends from Chicago, Nancy Martin and Cam Hastings. We spent our weekends off together with these young women and other staff members, listening to music, water skiing at our cottage on Fortune Lake, and eating Pizza at the Riverside.

 

Two years later before my Junior year when John and I were waterskiing together at the end of the summer, we had an accident involving my left foot and the propeller of the boat (John was driving), and after emergency surgery on my foot, spent the next two weeks waiting to return to college and Law School and visiting about everything you could possibly think of politics, dating, music, drama, current events, and his lonely upbringing in our small town where by all measures he was an unexpected resounding success in spite of adversity your can not possibly imaging, and our friend ship was cemented.

 

For the next 50 years I followed his career, and he followed mine, sending gifts for the birth of each of our daughters, while traveling the world with Grace Lines and eventually with Globus Tours. I was always fascinated with his exotic life, and after meeting his partner, Dick Cable, my wife and I began to enjoy his travels and adventures with personal visits in San Francisco and New York. John and Dick travelled to Hetch Hetchy with us to spend several glorious days at the Chalet constructed for FDR to dedicate the water project which to this day provides water to San Francisco, and to Sea Ranch in Mendicino county for a wonderful stay just before Dick died of HIV in 1990.

 

After that John became one of the family, joining us and our friends for summer holidays, and always at Christmas when he would arrive bringing gifts and tales of his business adventures. We talked frequently on the telephone, and, during his last few years of life monthly or weekly, as he struggled with what would become a life altering medical problems. His years at Globus were his finest years of his life, and he was heart broken when that came to an end. I will remember John fondly as one of the most unforgettable persons I ever met. He was an outstanding success in business, and a dear friend. I will miss our frequent talks, and his insights on politics and world affairs. I join his other friends and family who mourn his loss.

 

Rest in Peace my Friend. - Dr. Tom Addison

 

 

John's Wit, Wisdom and Savior Faire...

 

I have so many memories of my adventures with John that I hold dear. We traveled to Portugal with Travel Holiday, and discovered Fado and fine port wine. Our ski trips in Colorado were among my favorite times. I will also always cherish our many USTOA conference adventures in Banff, Cancun, Whistler, and Naples - to name just a few. But my fondest memories are the evenings spent in NYC, at the Cafe Carlyle with Ana Maria and Mike from Peru, or at the Top of the Sixes, or perhaps the Lotus Club. John was an urbane gentleman in every way, and I always felt special (and quite sophisticated) when spending time with John. John taught me about the tour operator business, and was an amazing supporter of The Official Tour Directory, during the time I was Publisher from 1989-1999. John was there to celebrate my marriage to Moshe, and the birth of Alex and Simon. For every milestone during those amazing years, John was always there, extending his friendship and support.

 

I will miss my friend, John. I will miss his caring and kind ways, his mentorship and his charm and wit. "A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find that after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us." John Steinbeck. Travel well, my friend.  - Susan Black​

 

 

I didn't know John during his life time and I don't have any stories to tell about him. I am sorry that I was not able to connect with him till it was too late. I came across this site as I was doing genealogy research on my great grandmother's family from Crystal Falls, Michigan. His father John Albert Martinen was the son of my grandmother Hilma Martinen. Her daughter Edith was a sibling of John Albert and my grandmother. How ironic that I have been piecing together the puzzle of my family history in the UP of Michigan and had found a hard trail to follow. Even more ironic is that in reading about John, I discovered that he had a 2nd home in Denver. I have lived in Denver for over 20 years and lots of Pearson "family" is here. How much fun would that have been to connect the "family dots" in the same city? John, even though we did not get to meet in this lifetime, we will eventually meet. Until then, RIP. Laurie Pearson - Long Lost Cousin

 

 

John is not only our irreplaceable and cherished friend but a dear member of our family.  May he rest in peace together with mother, father, Javicho and Brian. -  Mike and Ana Maria Astudillo  -  Lima -  PERU

 

 

I got to know John well the summer he worked as a counselor at Batawagama Summer Camp in Iron County Michigan. We were both counselors. I was dating his friend Ken Schulze and he my friend Nancy Martin. Another friend, Tom Addison was also working at the camp. The summer was filled with adventures and good times, well bringing outdoor experiences to many children. John went off to law school, Ken to medical school, and I returned to Michigan State as a senior. Our friendship continued through the years. John would bring us paintings from Peru to hang on our walls until he had a place of his own. I remember a very special experience in New York when John and I met and he took me to dinner at the Trade Center. His friendship was real and he will be missed by me. May John rest in piece.. - Kaye Jacobs Lowe

 

 

He was my portal into a wonderful career in travel with Globus and Cosmos. Thank you John for giving me the gift of seeing the world - I'm forever grateful.  - Larry McCarthy

 

 

John was a very kind man and I will never forget the time when our daughter was so sick and he was very concerned about us and how we were handling this. A big thank you to him for his big heart! - Linda Makers

 

 

When I worked at Travel Agent Magazine from 1987 to 2000 I came to know John first as a junior reporter covering the USTOA conferences and travel to Europe where he made a youngster feel welcome and was generous with his sharing of industry history and information long before one could just Google something. Later as Associate Publisher we worked with John to create the first supplier sponsored correspondence course training travel agents to sell tours and packages. John was a great advocate of the tour operator industry and a great promoter of the category. In the last couple years I had the pleasure of seeing him at a couple USTOA after hours mixers. RIP John - my thoughts and prayers are with you and your loved ones. - Doug Gollan

 

 

John Martinen - A boss, A Friend, A Great Man Who I Truly Respect!

 

My thoughts, prayers and heart goes out to John at this time, I will never forget him and always be grateful to him. John hired me at Globus and Cosmos, my first sales rep position in NYC! He made sure I was always in the lime-light as much as he was representing Globus & Cosmos and helped me over come some hardships in my personal life. At many travel industry functions, we danced to 'NY NY' by Frank Sinatra. Yep, John did LOVE NYC! - Joan Foster (Bohan)

 

 

I had the pleasure to work at Globus with John from 1986 to 1993. I remember him as a kind and gentle man. He was especially kind to me when my best friend passed away in 1992 also while employed at Globus, he was genuinely concerned about me and my profound grief. My deepest and most sincere condolences to his loved ones. RIP John. - Haydee Sabogal

 

 

I was just 16 when I started working at Globus/Cosmos. We formed a great family and made long lasting friendships. My love for travel is due partly to him and the opportunities he gave us. For that, I will be forever greatful. Thanks John. - Valentina Rodriguez

 

 

I was only in High School when I started working for Globus Gateway Tours. Globus had the working program for High School students. It was because of Globus that I found the love for work and travel. I had such great experiences that came out of Globus. I for one feared Mr. Martinen, I looked up to him and respected him as a boss. My co-workers of course knew this. One day they played a prank on me and wrote a letter in Mr. Martinen's name. I can't remember exactly what the letter was about (wished I would have saved it). I do remember the letter stating that I had to see John the minute I walked in the office, needless to say I was frightened. When I began to walk towards John's office my co-workers held me back and told me it was a prank. A few days later John got wind of the prank and he came over to me and said "I would've never sent you that letter, I care deeply about my employees. Glad to know you all are having fun working here that's what it's all about!" I was taken back and stunned at the same time. That was my only one encounter with John. Globus forever in my heart. R.I.P John. - Nora Morales

 

 

I had the pleasure of working and traveling with John Martinen extensively on Safe Passage International business for over a decade. He had a child-like wonderment with the world. Quick to find humor in commonplace occurrences in one moment, then to apply searing logic on complicated matters, I relied on his keen intellect and sense of irony to enliven even the mundane moments on the road. It's a tragedy that he's gone now - he will be missed. - Jon Gerlach

 

 

I had the great benefit and joy of knowing John for many years. Everyone who knew him quickly came to love his great wit and sharp intellect. Watching and learning from him through my years with Globus, I saw him create opportunities for all of us to learn and succeed. He was a fierce advocate for the tour industry and opened doors through his own travels to many new destinations. My favorite memory of John is the evening we finished our sales meeting in New York. The office was moving the next day. He spoke to his team and was very sentimental about New York. He was going to miss NYC but, as always, he embraced adventure. You will be missed my friend. Rest well. - Jean Dorn

 

 

Gracias por todo lo que me enseñaste ahora se que tengo un ángel que me cuida desde arriba. Siempre te recordare como el mejor padrino que alguien pudo tener. Te amo muchisimo uncle John. - Ana Maria De La Puente (John's God Daughter)

 

 

In memory of John Martinen. We are so sorry to hear about John's passing. We will always remember him as a wonderful and kind person. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones at this difficult time. May he rest in peace.

 

Sincerely, Alexandra and Nikos Tsakanikas Homeric Tours