A Columbia family was cloaked in grief this week as they gathered with friends to honor a man they will remember as a hero and his daughter, a quiet and promising young woman.
Douglas Martin, 44, of Long Reach, drowned Sept. 14 while trying unsuccessfully to rescue his 15-year-old daughter, Amy Martin, from rough waters in Ocean City.
Hundreds of mourners trickled in and out of a viewing at Our Lady of Perpetual Help church in Ellicott City on Sept. 19 to pay their respects to the Martins, a devout Catholic family that includes Douglas' wife, Jeanne, and his five surviving daughters.
The Martins surrounded themselves at the gathering with mementos of the two victims, among them Amy's red Irish dance costume and a T-shirt the Martin children decorated for their father with their handprints. Also on display were dozens of photographs: the smiling father and his daughters nestled on the couch, clowning around in sombreros, playing miniature golf, pony rides and wagon rides.
"Doug was the type of man everyone would want for a husband and a father. He got it right," said Jennifer Schuberth of Ellicott City, a longtime friend of the Martin family. "He was a hero and a role model."
Vacation turns tragic
While vacationing in Ocean City last week, Douglas and his three eldest daughters were swimming near 78th Street around 6 p.m., Sept. 14, when they were swept into deeper water, Ocean City police said.
Ocean City Pfc. Barry Neeb said a witness told police he saw the family wading into the ocean relatively close to the beach before they were swept out into deeper water.
"According to the witness, it looked like they were in distress pretty quickly," Neeb said. "They were swept out pretty far."
Douglas was attempting to swim ashore with two of his daughters when he realized Amy was missing, Neeb said.
"He swam back out for her," Neeb said.
One daughter, Emily, 17, was able to swim to shore, while another, Mary, 13, floated on her back until rescued by an Ocean City paramedic, police said.
After being pulled from the water by members of the Coast Guard, Douglas and Amy were transported to Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin, Md., where Douglas was pronounced dead upon arrival, police said.
Amy died about an hour later, police said.
At the time of the incident, Douglas' wife was at the family's rental condo with the couple's three younger daughters: Katherine, 10, Jennifer, 7, and Suzanne, 3, family members said.
Douglas' attempt to save his daughter was both heroic and characteristic, said his sister-in-law, Karen Bassler of Catonsville, describing him as "selfless."
"He risked his life on purpose, Bassler said. "He took himself from a position of safety when he realized his girls were in danger. He didn't hesitate. It was out of the question for Doug to do anything else. We cannot picture him making a different decision."
Classmates are 'devastated'
Amy, born on April 13, 1991, was described by family and friends as a "quiet and sweet" girl with a big smile, big blue eyes and "freckles marching across her nose."
The teen was home-schooled along with her sisters through a Catholic home-school community called T.O.R.C.H., or Traditions of Roman Catholic Homes.
She was talented at sewing and Irish dance, Bassler said, adding that Amy had recently begun teaching herself Arabic.
Maureen Berry, director of Teelin School of Irish Dance, where Amy took lessons and performed with the school's company, said Amy was one of her most reliable, well-practiced dancers.
"She was a very, very sweet girl," Berry said. "We all loved her and we're going to miss her a lot. ... It's like a little family here. She had a lot of friends, and the kids are just devastated over this."
Douglas, who was employed by the National Security Agency, was born Feb. 2, 1962 in Cumberland and spent much of his childhood in Florida.
He earned a degree in computer science from Florida State University, where he met Jeanne, Bassler said. After graduation, the couple was married in Tallahassee, Fla., on July 30, 1983.
According to Bassler, Jeanne described her marriage to Douglas as "Camelot."
"If God ever said the words 'Well done, good and faithful servant,' he said it to Doug. He was a walking, talking man of faith," Bassler said.
In addition to Douglas' wife, five daughters and sister-in-law, Douglas and Amy are survived by Amy's grandparents and Douglas' father-in-law and mother-in-law, Dale and Dorothie Murphy of Gambrills; Douglas' brothers and Amy's uncles, Robert Martin of College Park, Stephen Martin of South Portland, Maine, Frank Martin of Mississippi and Edward Martin of Ellicott City; Douglas' sister and Amy's aunt, Jane Lilly of Charlottesville, Va.; Amy's uncles and Douglas' brothers-in-law, Michael Murphy of Clifton, Va., and David Murphy of Alexandria, Va.; and Amy's aunt and Douglas' sister-in-law, Susan Boelsche of Fredericksburg, Va.
Douglas and Amy were preceded in death by Douglas' parents and Amy's grandparents, John Robert and Mary Jane Martin; and Douglas' brother and Amy's uncle, David Martin.
Funeral services and interment were scheduled for Sept. 20 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Ellicott City.
Donations may be sent to the Doug and Amy Martin Memorial Education Fund, c/o Dale Murphy, 1710 Saddle Drive, Gambrills, MD 21054.