Martin J. Mahady

On the morning of Saturday, November 29th, 2025, Martin J. Mahady ("Marty"), 80, passed away in Fort Myers, Florida. A beloved brother, uncle, friend, teacher, and community member, Marty lived a life marked by generosity, curiosity, and deep connection with others.

Marty's journey took him from Carbondale, Pennsylvania, to Bloomfield, New York, and eventually to Fort Myers and Fairport. He educated thousands of children with patience and humor, traveled to dozens of countries, and formed friendships that lasted a lifetime. Quiet but impactful in his giving, he supported family, friends, and organizations of all kinds, and he devoted himself to community service wherever he lived.

He was, in every sense, a character: eccentric, curious, and unmistakably one-of-a-kind. Marty spent decades restoring an 1823 home, complete with an Edwardian library he designed and built himself. He ended each school year by shaving off his beard in front of his students—a tradition they eagerly awaited. And from Thanksgiving through New Year's, he could always be found in a red sweater and Santa hat, part of his year-round enthusiasm for the holidays.

Social by nature, Marty was the life of any gathering. He made friends effortlessly, organized group outings and cruises, and loved sharing stories—especially those from his travels. In classic "Marty fashion," he often ran into acquaintances in the most unexpected places around the world: airports, museums, cafés, and more. He was always ready to raise a glass—preferably in one of his cherished Waterford crystal old-fashioneds—and never turned down a well-made vodka martini. He had a rare gift: he could talk to anyone, anywhere, anytime.

Marty filled his life with learning and adventure. He never married, but he embraced independence with enthusiasm. He refused to get internet or cable but had no qualms about "borrowing" both when needed. His travel stories included meeting a near-identical cousin in Australia, riding camels in Egypt with his mother, mastering English history, and knowing London inside and out.

A man of wide interests, Marty loved Greek mythology, classical music, and ocean cruises. He was also an enthusiastic collector: crèches from around the world, Christmas trees ranging from keychain-sized to fifteen feet tall, thousands of ornaments, high-end porcelain pigs, keychains, canes, letter openers, coins, antique postcards, Lenox figurines, icons, plat maps, and a personal library numbering in the thousands. He also adored old television shows, particularly Perry Mason and British crime dramas. And he was well known for creating "funeral cherries"—chocolate-covered, alcohol-soaked treats served only at funerals and always delivered with a grin.

Marty graduated from Monroe High School in 1963 and earned his B.A. in Education from St. John Fisher College in 1968. He taught for many years in the Honeoye Falls–Lima School District, becoming a respected and well-loved elementary educator. He was active in the Bloomfield Historical Society, the Scientific Club, and the Antique Wireless Museum, and he dedicated countless hours to researching the origins of Rochester's street names.

Marty is survived by his sisters Janice Vitberg of Fairport, NY, and Carole Landry of Plano, TX; his brother Thomas of Newnan, GA; 14 nieces and nephews; and 20 great-nieces and great-nephews. To them, he was UNCLE MARTY!!!—a joyful, generous presence whose visits brought stories, guidance, gifts, and his famous pouch of foreign coins.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 17, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Fuller Funeral Home,Inc. 190 Buffalo Street, Canandaigua, NY.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Thursday, December 18, at St. Bridget's Church, 15 Church Street, Bloomfield, NY. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Canandaigua, NY

Memorial donations may be made to Advent House, 1010 Moseley Road, Fairport, NY 14450, or online at www.theadventhouse.org.

To share a memory or express condolences online, please visit www.fullerfh.com