NORTHAMPTON — The memory of Dr. Marty Nathan and her tireless efforts as a social justice activist were honored during a tree planting ceremony at the Bridge Street Cemetery on Saturday.
More than 40 friends, family and social justice colleagues joined together to celebrate the life of Martha “Marty” Nathan, who retired as a physician, and died from complications of heart disease and lung cancer in November of last year at the age of 70.
Her advocacy work continued throughout her life, beginning when she protested against the Vietnam War.
She was the founder of the environmental activism group 2degrees Northampton, a co-founder of Climate Action Now and a board member of the Springfield Climate Justice Coalition. She also wrote a monthly column for the Daily Hampshire Gazette on the topic of climate change.
The Gazette and the United Way of Hampshire County honored Nathan year Nathan with the Frances Crowe Award, named for the legendary Northampton peace and anti-nuclear activist who died in 2019 at the age of 100.
Ever-dedicated to the cause, Nathan continued to fight up until the very end, according to her widower, Elliot Fratkin.
“Just weeks before she passed, she headed down to Washington for a march,” he said. “Right up to the day she died, she was fighting.”
Fratkin offered thanks for the number of cards, texts and food sent in the days, weeks and months since his wife’s passing. He also noted how grateful he was to see so many friends after a long lockdown.
“Marty meant so much to so many people – activists in climate justice, racial justice, health care for all, immigrant rights, democratic socialism, the environment,” he said. “Her generosity, warmth, humor, and dedication to life and the planet touched so many of us.”
Lilly Lombard, a fellow climate activist and friend of Nathan’s, led the group in planting a disease-resistant American chestnut tree with help from her husband, John and daughter Madeleine. Once Lombard had dug into the earth and set the tree in the ground, she invited those in attendance to throw some dirt around the newly planted sapling.
Lombard and her daughter also led the crowd in singing a few hymns.
“She meant something so beautiful to each one of us personally and communally it was very important to me that such a giant in our community and giant for goodness and righteousness be memorialized here in our town,” said Lombard. “So, we plant a tree right here in one of the most historically important cemeteries in Northampton to honor and remember Marty and to have a place that we can go to feel her.”
Staff Writer Emily Thurlow can be reached at ethurlow@gazettenet.com.
Emily Thurlow can be reached at ethurlow@gazettenet.com.
