Osborn Funeral Home - Shreveport3631 Southern AvenueShreveport, LA

Loving family man, engineer, storyteller, adventurer, golfer, tennis player, and ice cream (with nuts) enthusiast Robert "Bob" Felix Martina, 87, a longtime Shreveport, LA resident of 47 years, formerly of Clifton, NJ, passed away unexpectedly on September 12, 2022, from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident - a sudden end to a long and interesting life. Born on December 23, 1934, in Passaic, New Jersey to Mary Manella Martina and Caesar Martina, Bob spent his formative years in Clifton, NJ and Hollywood, FL, was a 1952 graduate of Clifton High School, and attended and obtained undergraduate and master's degrees in engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University and Steven's Institute of Technology, respectively. Upon graduating college in 1956, Bob accepted a job with United States Gypsum Corporation's roofing division as a project engineer and quality superintendent. Bob was credited with developing a "seal down" shingle process still used today. In 1957, Bob enrolled in the United States Army Armored Infantry National Guard and Reserve. He became a tank gunner and attended Armored Officer School at Fort Knox, Kentucky where he achieved the top ranking in his class. In 1958, Bob fell in love with and married his eventual lifelong companion, Janice Jacobi. Together, they embarked on a sixty-four-year adventure. Because of Bob's early engineering career, Bob and Janice moved around quite a bit, eventually moving to and living in twelve different states. When one spoke with Bob, he was always happy to tell you a few stories about those days - especially involving the 'cold winters' in Minnesota and Michigan. In 1965, Bob's family expanded. Bob and Janice were blessed with two children, fraternal boy and girl twins, Robert and Ann. Bob joyfully referred to his children as "The Twins" and always joked he "got two for the price of one!" Subsequently, in the late 50's and 60's, Bob took a position with The Western Electric Company and was soon selected and accepted into the U.S. Government's prestigious and long-term Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) program in Washington D.C. involving large computer systems and associated networking equipment that coordinated and communicated data from multiple radar sites. SAGE directed and controlled the NORAD response to possible Soviet air attacks. While with SAGE, Bob specialized in system defense work, missile design, radar communications and installations, computer programming, instrumentation and data reduction, and radio frequency emissions development. He provided expertise and worked across the country with weapons integration, testing, and interceptor guidance against bombers in Duluth, Minnesota, air defense and radar surveillance systems in Marquette, Michigan, and he was appointed the Lead Engineer and Test Director of Air Defense Systems and Air Surveillance in Great Falls, Montana. During the later years of SAGE, Bob was assigned to White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico where he participated in and supervised anti-ballistic missile radar testing. Bob continued his engineering career with The Western Electric Company. In 1976, the Martina family moved to Shreveport where Bob accepted an Engineering Manager position at The Western Electric Company Shreveport Works. Bob eventually entered into semi-retirement, but by no means did he stop working! He continued consultant work for various tech startups and military defense contractors. Throughout his life, Bob was an accomplished engineer with a passion for designing innovative products. More recently, and up until his death, Bob was active with the National Retiree Legislative Network (NRLN), was an officer and member of the NRLN Board of Directors and was Vice President of the NRLN Grassroots Network. He was a steadfast advocate for all retirees. Bob lived life fully, was a sportsman, competitor, adventurer, traveler, and storyteller. He tremendously enjoyed spending time with his friends and family. Bob's famous Old Fashioneds, friendly interactions ("who wants ice cream? With nuts!"), unique Christmas gifts (with handwritten and specific notes), storytelling, and laughter will be missed. Undisputedly, Bob was an interesting and opinionated man. He was always fully informed about the state, country and world. He also liked to stir the pot. From submitting frequent op-ed letters to The Shreveport Times to posting political opinions on social media, whether you agreed with him or not, he was definitely interesting. Although Bob has left this world, his memory and many shared stories will, no doubt, continue to provide entertainment to his family and friends for years to come. Bob was also an avid and lifelong golfer and, some say, a "legendary" tennis player. He played in USTA tournaments across the Southeast, was a former Chairman of the East Ridge Country Club Tennis Committee, was captain of his Shreveport city league tennis team for years, and played golf and tennis well into his 80's. Even at 84 years old, Bob was proudly competing with (and usually beating) tennis players half his age. In recent years, and as Janice's overall health and Alzheimer's condition declined, Bob's role changed. He had been Janice's primary caregiver for the last eleven years. Bob's dedication and commitment in this role was extraordinary - truly above and beyond all expectations. As Bob would happily say with pride, "that's what I signed up for." Bob was preceded in death and is peacefully reunited with his parents, Mary Manella Martina and Caesar Martina, and two brothers, Norman Martina and Rudy Martina. He leaves behind and is survived by his wife of 64 years, Janice Jacobi Martina, son, Robert Martina (Renee) of Lafayette, LA, daughter, Ann Martina Brown (Doug) of Dallas, TX, grandchildren, Robert Mark Martina (Sarah), Mary Martina, Renner Brown, and Rowen Brown, and numerous other family members. A memorial service will be held @ 2 p.m. on Tuesday, September 20th at Osborn Funeral Home https://www.osbornfuneralhome.net/obituary/8225329 3631 Southern Ave, Shreveport, followed by a reception at East Ridge Country Club https://www.eastridgecc.com/, 1000 Stewart Rd., Shreveport. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude's Research Hospital https://www.stjude.org or the Alzheimer's Association https://act.alz.org

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