Martin Lyle Brittan Walter

Martin Lyle Brittan  Walter, of Needham and North Falmouth, MA and Guernsey (British Channel Islands), entered into eternal rest on June 23, 2024 at age 88.  Born in Kobe, Japan on September 21, 1935, Martin was the loving husband of “his bride” Joan, for sixty-five years, beloved father to Deborah, Sharon (Rob), Mark and Simon (Corinne), and grandfather to his adoring grandchildren Raymond, Christian, Khazana, Calvin and Benazhir.  He was also the loving uncle to William Walter.

Martin was a life-long ‘traveler’.  His family left Japan in 1937 as concerns over the Sino-Japanese war grew and they returned to the ancestral home in Guernsey.  With Europe increasingly concerned about the territorial ambitions of Germany and Guernsey’s proximity to France, he, his mother and brother resided in England and then secured passage on the last ship leaving England for the United States.  Eventually settling in Santa Monica, CA, after four years they returned to England in 1945 after VE day.  Upon arriving in England, the family home was in a much-bombed out area of London.  The ruined buildings were the boys play area.  Years later, Martin was shocked at the risks he and the other children had taken!

Martin attended an all-boys boarding prep school in Kent and then Eastbourne College, an all-boys private boarding school in Sussex.  After graduation, Martin was off again to McGill University in Montreal, Canada, earning a B.Com, and spent the summers working at The Banff Springs Hotel in the Canadian Rockies.  Two years after graduation from McGill, Martin and Joan arrived in New York City where he earned an MBA from Columbia University in 1961.  Back to Montreal, Martin joined The Gillette Company, transferred to headquarters in Boston and then to Melbourne, where he served as Managing Director for Gillette Australia for three and one-half years.  Next came a move to Gillette’s Braun division in Sweden, where Martin was charged with developing business in Scandinavia, Finland and Austria.  Two years later, the family moved to Braun headquarters in Kronberg, West Germany (as it was known then) where Martin served as Geographic Manager of Northern Europe and then was promoted to Head Worldwide Business Manager for Braun.

After nine years overseas, the family returned to Boston and Martin joined New Balance Athletic Shoe initially responsible for Marketing and Sales in the US and internationally.  Eventually he was responsible for International Business which meant travelling extensively to set up offices worldwide.

Martin was passionate about education and mentoring the young.  After retiring in 2003, his activities included English-language instruction to immigrants; consultant to the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts; Chairman of AIM’s International Business Council; volunteer teacher’s aide at a North Quincy elementary school, Town Meeting Member in Needham and Wellesley; Director of a long-established family business in Guernsey; guest lecturer at his alma mater, McGill, twice a year as well as several universities in the Boston area.  Ever mindful of his mother’s strength in shepherding two young boys in the days of World War II and of the generosity of Americans, he supported many charities in an effort to ‘pay back’. 

In retirement, Martin and Joan enjoyed traveling the world, visiting family and friends across the US and Europe, and spending time at their special place in Menton, France.

The family would like to extend their deepest thanks to all of the care partners and team members at Pines Edge for the unwavering assistance and compassion they showed to Martin over the last several years.

There will be a Visitation from 9:30 to 10:30AM before a Service of Remembrance on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at 11:00AM at Christ Episcopal Church, 1132 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02492.  A reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Martin’s memory to Episcopal Relief and Development, c/o Robert Radtke, 815 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10017-4503 or a charity of your choice.

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