William Barnes Martin

William Barnes Martin, of Bloomfield, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 after a short illness. He was the husband of Grace Stephenson Martin, who passed away in 2004. Born in Los Angeles on February 26, 1931, he was raised in Des Moines, Iowa and, after graduating from the University of Iowa, moved to the Hartford area in 1956. As founder and president of Martin, Belair & Company, he was a leader in the revitalization of Hartford in the 1970s, converting 74 Union Place and 417 Congress Street into apartments, and restoring the Congress Street area, which was subsequently listed by the National Historic Trust. Before forming Martin, Belair, he was associated with Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Waterbury Savings Bank, and Connecticut Bank and Trust Company. In 1991 he joined People’s Bank to direct the sale of foreclosed commercial real estate, retiring in 1996. He served in the U.S. Army as a Counter Intelligence Corps agent during the Korean Conflict. Active in the community, he was President of the Boys and Girls Club of Hartford, Director and Vice President of the Seabury Retirement Community, and a corporator of Hartford Hospital. He was a member of the Hartford Golf Club, where he was an avid golfer, and the Hartford Canoe Club. Son of the late Carroll Browning Martin and Sarah Barnes Martin Sones, he leaves a daughter, Mary Sones Martin (Jeffrey A. Amell) of West Hartford and a son, William B. Martin, Jr. and Kathleen McCarthy of Boulder, CO and four grandchildren, Kerry Jean Kuchta (Casey) and Kasey Grace Martin, and Grace Roach Amell and James Martin Amell. He was also predeceased in 2017 by Antonie M. Martin, a dear friend with whom he enjoyed many years of companionship. Friends may call at Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, CT on Monday, June 3, 2024 from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at Church of Saint Peter Claver, 47 Pleasant Street, West Hartford, CT. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice. Online expressions of sympathy and directions may be found at www.molloyfuneralhome.com