Martin Lee Oliveri

Graveside Service Wednesday, September 24th, 2014 - 11:00 AM - Ft. Sill National Cemetery 2648 NE Jake Dunn Road - Elgin, OK - 73538 Martin Lee Oliveri was born on November 7, 1951 to Phillip and Evelyn Oliveri in Peoria, IL. Martin was the first of five children and grew up in New Jersey. He joined the US Marine Corps after high school where he served from 1969-1973 as a Sergeant. Martin also served in the US Army for 6 years as a first Lieutenant. During his military service, he received the Army Service Ribbon, the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Army Commendation Medal and the Overseas Service Ribbon. Martin was proud to serve in the military and took that honor very seriously. He was later active in the VFW. Martin achieved his Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern Oklahoma State in Alva, OK where he also played football and enjoyed being on the sports staff writing and announcing. Martin achieved his Masters in Education from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, OK. His interest in all subjects, with his favorite being history, led him to a career as a Special Education teacher where he was loved by his students. Martin taught most recently at Grant High School in Oklahoma City and retired from Oklahoma City Public Schools in 2008. Martin met his wife Judy on St. Patrick’s Day in 1993. They shared common interests in politics, education, music and more. They married in Eureka Springs, AR on July 24, 1999. Over the years they enjoyed sharing stories from their teaching careers together. Martin was a history and political aficionado and could recall dates and times of countless important events. He was also a gifted writer. To say Martin was a sports enthusiast was an understatement. Yankees baseball and Oklahoma City Thunder basketball were two of his favorites. In addition to playing college football, he wrestled for the Army where he competed in a wrestling tournament in Hawaii and won a few wrestling championship medals. Martin also enjoyed music with favorites such as Bruce Springsteen from his New Jersey days. Martin loved talking to people and caring for them. He also dearly loved his family and being a grandpa. He was preceded in death by his father, Phillip Oliveri and step father, Keno Irizarry. Martin leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Judy Oliveri; his mother, Evelyn Irizarry of NJ; two sisters: Susan Raychel of NJ and Bobby Ann Allen of GA; two brothers: Albert Oliveri & wife Donna of NJ and Phillip Oliveri & wife Lenore of IN; two daughters: Kristen Van Buskirk & husband Daniel of Tulsa, OK and Erin Koos & partner Paul Clewis of Oklahoma City, OK; 5 grandchildren: Caden, Alli, Bryn & Lia Van Buskirk of Tulsa, OK and Tayla Koos-Clewis of Oklahoma City, OK and many other loved ones. We celebrate Martin’s life, his love and his legacy on this day. The family requests that donations be made in Martin’s memory to the ALS Assoc. (www.alsa.org). To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Martin Lee Oliveri please visit our Sympathy Store.