Obituary of Martin J. Hand

Martin James "Marty" Hand, 81, of Kiantone, passed away peacefully in the comfort of his beloved home on Saturday September 15, 2018, surrounded by his loving family. An area resident since 1971, he was born September 26, 1936 in Binghamton, NY, a son of the late Martin Jerome and Mary Claire Jones Hand. Marty was a graduate of the Blue Ridge High School in New Milford, PA and was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving from April 7, 1959 to February 9, 1961. He also served in the U.S. Army Reserves until April 6, 1965. Before his retirement in 2001, he was a civil engineer working for Cold Spring Construction for 10 years. He had previously worked as an engineer for McFarland-Johnson Company and also worked for Whitmore Paving Company and for Nelson Brothers Construction. He was an avid reader, a history buff, a lover of music and loved his many pet dogs over the years. His life was made more complete by his trips to Ireland and the friends he met and shared a beer with at the Samuel L. Derby Post 556, American Legion in Frewsburg and the Lakewood Rod & Gun Club. His family is consoled with the knowledge that Marty is now on Heaven's baseball diamond, throwing the ball around with his brothers Jerry and John, under the loving eyes of their parents and a loving God. It is also comforting to know that Marty lived a full life of baseball, flying planes, and service to others by coaching softball, ringing the bell for the Salvation Army at Christmas time and donating blood to the American Red Cross. Surviving are his wife Betty A. Hoover Hand whom he married October 23, 1971, his older brother, Philip (Helen) Hand of Webster, NY, his younger sister, Mary Claire (James) Barnes of Hornell, NY, his sister-in-law, Marlene (John) Roth of Ashville, NY, as well as many loving and caring nieces, nephews and many dear friends. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his two brothers, Jerome Joseph Hand and John Edward Hand. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 22, 2018, in St. James Catholic Church. The Rev. Darrell G. Duffy, pastor will be celebrant. Burial will be in the Busti Cemetery. Friends will be received from 5-8 p.m. Friday, September 21, 2018, in the Lind Funeral Home where a Christian Wake Service will be led at 7:45 p.m. Friday in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care, 20 West Fairmount Ave. or to the American Red Cross, Chautauqua County Chapter, 325 East Fourth St. Jamestown, NY 14701.