Wynn Martin

I began my teaching career at Bellaire High School. Little did I know that I would be touched by so many truly incredible students. We formed a bond that to this day still survives. The drama kids and I had a "family" complete with all of the idiosyncrasies that you find in a real family. We were focused, hard-working and committed to our love of theatre and to each other. Among our cast of characters was Wynn. He was intelligent, insightful and humorous. He was witty, irritating and endearing. He never knew when to stop. He always treasured us. He was giving and kind and bitingly sarcastic. He was one of us. He made us complete. He was like a son and a brother and that crazy cousin that stays in your room during holidays. We loved him for all of his gifts and talents and for his crazy sense of humor that often times we didn't get. Without him we would not have been whole.

When we did As You Like It Wynn played himself. He played the character of the fool who was the only on who understood the truth. Little did we know at the time that his life would be cut short before he completed his seven ages.

All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players:  They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages. At first the infant, Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms. And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel, And shining morning face, creeping like snail Unwillingly to school. And then the lover, Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier, Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard, Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel, Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice, In fair round belly with good capon lin’d, With eyes severe, and beard of formal cut, Full of wise saws and modern instances; And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts Into the lean and slipper’d pantaloon, With spectacles on nose and pouch on side, His youthful hose well sav’d, a world too wide 1 For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice, Turning again toward childish treble, pipes And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all, That ends this strange eventful history, Is second childishness and mere oblivion, Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

As You Like It II vii

Recently my husband Loren and I had the privilege of having lunch with Kate, Sammy and Wynn and although it had been almost 20 years it seemed as if no time had passed at all. He made us laugh and cry.

We will miss you Wynn.

Love MAV