Foundational to facilities — and people
Bryan Martin was the Coeur d’Alene School District’s director of maintenance and facilities for 27 years, retiring in 2019. He passed away on Feb. 23 at 67 years old. Courtesy photo
Bryan Martin, second from left, at the July 18, 2019, groundbreaking ceremony for Northwest Expedition Academy on Prairie Avenue. Also pictured, from left: Rich Wells, President, Ginno Construction Co.; Director of Maintenance Jeff Voeller; former Trustee Lisa May; former Trustee Tom Hearn; former Superintendent Steve Cook; Trustee Casey Morrisoe; former Trustee Tambra Pickford; Jon Mueller, Architects West; Scott Fischer, Architects West; Meghan Teichmann, Architects West; NExA Principal Bill Rutherford. Photo courtesy of the Coeur d'Alene School District
Bryan Martin, right, shares a holiday meal with students at Venture High School. Photo courtesy of the Coeur d'Alene School District
Bryan Martin with former TESH chief executive officer Frances Huffman, after the Coeur d'Alene Public Schools Maintenance and Grounds Department received the A+ Award from the Education Committee of the Coeur d'Alene Regional Chamber, on Sept. 11, 2019.
Bryan Martin with his youngest grandson Aaron Martin in their garden. Photo courtesy of Valerie Martin
He was a warrior.
A goofy guy.
Simple-dressed, he just wore Carhartts.
And he loved his job.
These are all ways Valerie Martin described her late husband, Bryan Martin.
Martin was the Coeur d’Alene School District’s director of maintenance and facilities for 27 years, retiring in 2019. He passed away on Feb. 23 at 67 years old.
“It was just a fluke thing,” Valerie said.
He got pneumonia. The week before he had gone skiing and went to the Watch D.O.G.S. program at Dalton Elementary School with his grandsons.
During his time with the district, Martin oversaw construction of Lake City High School, Woodland Middle School and several elementary schools as well as the remodel or additions to every other school building currently in use in the district.
“Bryan Martin was tremendous,” said Bob Clayton, a retired systems manager for the school district. “He was without a doubt the best and most knowledgeable facilities manager I ever worked with or for.”
Clayton said Martin dealt with crises on a day-to-day if not moment-by-moment basis, and was very good at defusing a lot of situations that would have exploded with a lesser man.
He said the fiscal success of the district can be attributed in large part to the revenue saving programs implemented by Martin.
“Bryan was both gifted and without equal,” Clayton said.
Almost a decade ago, Martin had a double stem cell transplant when he had cancer. His wife said they could easily have taken disability but her husband wanted to go back to work.
“He went in half days until he got strong, and he just worked at it,” she said. “He went to the gym and had a trainer.”
Steve Casey, a former principal of Coeur d’Alene High School, said he was close to Martin, working together for around 15 years, and also having the Martins' sons in the school.
“He was one of the nicest guys that I ever met,” Casey said. “He was a good man.”
Casey said Martin was a hard worker who did much to improve the school district and save them money.
“The ways he ran and operated all the high schools and all the schools, he never missed a beat,” Casey said.
Casey said that over the years working in the schools, when he met someone like Martin it wasn’t uncommon to develop a close friendship.
“I’m going to miss him, I know that for a fact,” Casey said. “He was just a super guy.”
Coeur d’Alene School District Trustee Casey Morrisroe said it was clear that Martin had a special relationship with the architects, engineers and contractors he worked with.
Morrisroe said Martin was known for his no-nonsense, straightforward approach and never shied away from tough conversations. Morrisroe said that in retirement, Martin still found time to drop by and talk with him, advocating for "his people."
“That’s how he thought of his past employees,” Morrisroe said.
After Martin learned through his grandson’s Little League experience there were no longer any local batting cages and kids were traveling to Spokane, he bought equipment from one of the closed cages and set it up in his home for his grandson’s teammates.
“Before long he had extended invitations to all the Little League players and was allowing them to practice at his home,” Morrisroe said. “That really showed me what type of person Bryan was.”
Valerie said the amount of love her family has received has warmed her heart, and shown what an impression her husband had made. Their two sons grew up with many “brothers,” whom Bryan used to take out fishing and boating. They called him “Old Man River.”
The now grown men shared with the Martin family what Bryan had meant to them:
“I feel very grateful I had the chance to know him and learn many life lessons from him.”
“The things he taught us all and so many others will never be forgotten. He touched so many lives and was always stepping up to help anyone who needed. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten.”
“His impact has been significant and will be carried on for many generations… Thank you for letting us be a part of your family and getting to feel the love and warmth.”
“That’s just the way he was,” Valerie said.
“That smile of his,” she said with a laugh. “He was always doing something.”
There will be a celebration of life at the Coeur d’Alene High School gymnasium on April 16 at 10 a.m.
