Lawrence "Larry" Martin, a lifelong area resident, died at home surrounded by loved ones on August 3, 2022 at the age of 84. Born in Poughkeepsie, NY, he was the son of the late Howard and Mary (nee Bitalla) Martin. Dedicated to service and community from a young age, Larry earned the Boy Scout's highest rank of Eagle Scout at age 13. As a young paperboy, his ever-present optimism and ever-bright smile, which were to become his trademark, were recognized with the presentation of the "Optimist Award." Larry was educated at St. Mary's where he was class President and Poughkeepsie high school. He went on to earn a BS in Agricultural Engineering from Cornell University's School of Agriculture and Life Sciences. While an undergraduate he participated in Army ROTC and following graduation proudly served as an Armor Officer in the United States Army from 1959 to 1960 where he commanded a group of M60 Patton tanks. For the next 30 years he worked at IBM Poughkeepsie in computer engineering and management until his retirement in December 1991. Early in his career, the newly promoted Manager of Data Logistics Systems was the youngest serving Manager in the company. A friend of Larry's once commented that Larry probably couldn't remember any of the programs he worked on but could recite the names of every single person he ever worked with, which speaks volumes to his character and values. In the twilight of his career, he served as adjunct professor at Northeastern University where he created a program to assist minority engineering students seeking job opportunities. After retiring from IBM, coming full circle from his youth, he launched a courier business delivering magazine and newspaper publications throughout eastern NY, greeting each client with a ready smile and characteristic optimism. With continued commitment to community, Larry was a 4th Degree member, charter member and Past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, Council #6111. He was a member of Regina Coeli Church and a member of Semper Fi Parents of the Hudson Valley. Larry could often be found donating blood at one of the many blood drives he routinely organized, preparing and serving community meals, volunteering for charity golf outings, coordinating donations, and preparing gifts and supplies to support Christmas for Our Troops. Larry was blessed with an exceptionally keen intellect and was a life-long learner who met every book and cross-word puzzle with a childlike curiosity and a resolve to learn something new, particularly relating to the natural world. His encyclopedic knowledge of all things plant, animal and even mathematical earned him many phone calls from friends and family to clarify obscure points of interest or resolve intellectual disputes all of which he did with fact-based diplomacy and characteristic smile. He could be handed a leaf and tell you what tree dropped it or name any bird by sight or sound. He thoroughly enjoyed sitting by the ocean and observing the seascape and birds and delighted at the occasional glimpse of dolphin. At the time of his passing, he was keeping close track of the progress a nest of loggerhead sea turtle eggs nearly ready to hatch. Larry's communion with the animal kingdom was most apparent simply watching him with one of the many dogs he loved over the years, and the sincere way that love was returned. On April 23, 1961, in Holy Trinity Church, Poughkeepsie, he married Carol Ann (nee Connevey) Martin who survives at home. He is also survived by his three children, Maureen Perry and husband Roger, Deidre Cusack and husband Francis "Skip", and Dr. Sean Martin and wife Anna (nee Fouts); and three grandchildren, Kathleen Cusack, Maeve Cusack, and Jenna Martin. He is also survived by his beloved niece, Colleen Martin Dierze and a large extended family. Along with his parents, he was also predeceased by his brother Howard Martin (1992), sister Patricia Ogden (1986), special cousin Ray Lee (1977), and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Calling hours will be from 4 to 7 pm on August 11, 2022 at Sweet's Funeral Home, Rt. 9, Hyde Park, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 am on August 12th at Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel, 185 Hudson View Drive, Poughkeepsie, NY. Burial with military honors will follow at St. Peter's Cemetery. Kindness and generosity were a hallmark of Larry. If in lieu of flowers anyone would like to donate to a charity important to Larry, the family respectfully request memorial donations to the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, 302 Tortuga Ln. Surf City, NC 28445 (www.seaturtlehospital.org) or The American Heart Association P.O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284 (www.heart.org)