Douglas James Martin was born on November 15, 1939, in Montreal, Quebec to M
other, Anne Marshall, and father, James Martin. Little brother, David Martin, would follow a few years later. When step-father, George Hiscock, came into their lives, their family was complete.
Doug attended Lester Pearson High School, but like any true Canadian, his youth was spent on the ice, playing hockey. His senior year in high school he was drafted by the Montreal Canadians to play semi-pro hockey in Spokane, WA.
In 1959, Vancouver, B.C, the skates he put on would change. After 6 weeks of figure skating lessons and auditioning for the world-renowned Ice Capades in Hollywood, he was offered a job in the show. He went on to skate on the National Ice Capades tour for the next 10 years as an Adagio or “Pair Skater” first with Elyn Tia and later with Patti Forbes. Doug also skated in various comedic routines with Freddie Trenkler. They performed 10 shows per week, 10 months per year.
Some of the highlights of his career were selling out shows to record-breaking crowds of 29,000 at Shea Stadium, performing at the Olympic open ice arena in Squaw Valley, meeting and performing with numerous celebrities, including the Supremes, Jimmy Dean, and for the First-Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy.
Then as fate would have it, Honolulu, Hawaii was later added to the tour. It was in Hawaii, that he was introduced to fellow international entertainer, Tahitian dancer, Andrea Malawaina Bright Andrews, who was dancing with Tavana Faanui at the time in Waikiki. Malawaina, “Mala” would later become his wife.
Acknowledgement: Doug always said that he would write a book about his time with the Ice Capades and he did. The book is called “Frozen Community.”
Doug and Mala Martin have come to make their home in Stockton, CA. He was a loving husband and father. Together, they have 3 children: Monique, James, and Tinamarie; 4 grandchildren: David, Nicole, Kaitlyn, and Alyssa; and 5 fur babies: dogs- Xena, Kiera, Michael, and Critter: cat- bruddah.
a few of his favorite things: Studying the Bible, Joe Montana (49er’s), Hockey, Skating, Travelling, World News, Comedy, Everly Brothers, Coffee Crisp, Shortbread, Macintosh, Neapolitan ice cream, and Coffee (Chewy and Moowy)…..
On July 18th, Doug was called home to glory. He was surrounded by his family and with love until his last breath and beyond. It’s not possible to fully capture everything about who dad was in a memorial and what he meant to all of us. This a mere glimpse at the essence of who he was. If you are reading this, however, then you are a part of his story. We would love for you to share your memories with us.