Happy Birthday Greg you are still missed and will continue to be so.
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I just found out that Greg passed away back in 2022. I was a running partner of his for a few years. Recently retired, I thought I'd Google the guy and maybe get back into marathoning. He was so funny on runs at Rancho and Los Gatos. I remember one run where we challenged ourselves to speak only lines from Their Eyes Were Watching God, a novel that we both taught. Long live Greg!
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just want to wish Greg a happy birthday. I still miss him every day and continue to talk to him. Carl
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Too those who follow this site: I miss Greg every day and talk to him every day. He is never far from me. He had that kind of impact on people who loved him.
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I remember Greg from the late 1960s or early 70s. I didn't get see him that often, as primaryly I was friends with Karen's brother Gary. I too went to SJSU graduating in 1968. I do remember the Just Us and seeing Janis Joplin play at the SJ Civic. I'm happy to come across this well written tribute to Gregg. Last I heard 50+ years ago he was teaching. So I had no idea of his great accomplishments and subsequent family. Greg RIP, you did great.
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I was so sad to learn of Mr. Martin’s passing. As with so many others, he was my favorite teacher in high school and made such a tremendous impact on my life: he taught me to believe in myself at a time when I was really struggling. I participated in mock trial with him for two years and that experience is without a doubt the reason I have been a practicing litigator for almost 13 years. As a kid, having an adult you respect tell you that you are smart and talented and can be successful at anything you want to do really makes a difference and I still think about those conversations today. I’m so happy to hear that Mr. Martin continued to coach Mock Trial because I know how impactful that experience can be. I am also thrilled to hear of his continued love with Mary, one of the most wonderful women I encountered during my time at Willow Glen
While it’s a few months late, my condolences to Danner, Will and Mary.
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1988, Willow Glen, San Jose, CA, USA
Mr.Martin at Senior Night
— with
Gloria Barron
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I am very sorry to hear of Mr. Martin's passing. Mr. Martin was one of my favorite teachers at WGHS, I had him for 12th grade English. There are two books he assigned for his class that I remember particularly well. One was a reading of "A Streetcar Named Desire." After reading the book, Mr. Martin grouped the students in pairs and had us act out a scene. The other book he has us read was "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." Upon viewing the film I remember Mr. Martin explain and teach us cinematic techniques and directing styles, things I still pay attention to today in films. Tests in Mr. Martin's class were essays only. At a time where I was not interested in school and pursuing my education, I felt Mr. Martin saw creativity in my writing and encouraged me where few had. His class was special and unique.
Jonathan Shaw, Ph.D.
Oakland, CA
WGHS class of 2004
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Sarah Shorsher
2000, Willow Glen High School, Cottle Avenue, San Jose, CA, USA
Very sad news. Mr. Martin was my all time favorite teacher. I had him for English my senior year. I wasn’t the best student at this point in high school, but he never gave up on me and was always encouraging. He never missed an opportunity to tell me I was better than the effort I was currently giving, but in a great way. He made me want to do better. He was a fun, interesting, no BS kind of teacher. He once let a good friend of mine and I do a pretty interesting presentation with scenes from Quentin Tarantino movies, which I realize now were not great choices for a high school project, lol, and he thought it was just great. He let you just be you, which was incredibly rare of a teacher in my experience. I had a great deal of appreciation and respect for him. Condolences to his family, friends and students.
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Mr. Martin was my favorite teacher. I learned so much from his English class where he made it fun to read and learn. He was always engaged and interested in what sports we were playing and what was going on in our lives. Class of ‘89!
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Mr. Martin was my English teacher too. Class of 2000. I played a prank on him once. That day I came to the class late. I put pomegranate juice all over my arms and neck and shirt and told him I got into an accident. He freaked out and about to send me to the nurse. I told him I was just kidding and he didn’t believe me. He said, “don’t be silly you have to go to the nurse! You know if you hurt you cannot play sports anymore!” He was very concerned . I wiped the juice away and the whole class laughed. He was such a loving teacher. I still remember that day ❤️
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Mr. Martin was one of my favorite teachers in HS and I will never forget learning to love creative writing in his class, and his class was absolutely my favorite. And all the Mock Trial memories. Love to his family...
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To Danner, Will, Mary and Laurel........oh the times we had at WGHS especially when we were bums in "Annie." We would hustle to the local liquor store between acts and then returned and tried to behave ourselves. Surprised Mickey Long didn't take us to task!! Poor Jack Edwards just put up with us but that's what he got for selecting us...........myself, Greg, Barry, Marc and whoever else I'm forgetting. Greg lit up the front office when he passed by my desk in the front office and we had many lengthy conversations standing at the Xerox machine. I admired him and fully enjoyed our interactions. And his book recommendations were spectacular. My sympathy to all but I have a feeling Greg is now in the great beyond and still raising hell. Blessings to each of you as you work through this difficult time.
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I am so deeply sorry to hear of Greg's passing. Greg was a great friend of my brother, Marty and from the first time I saw Greg as a little girl I was in love. My brother had many friends but Greg was the kindest to the bratty young girl (10 years younger) that wanted to hang for a moment with these older boys. (He was also the cutest) Greg was a great supporter of the Foundation I began after the death of my son Tim and golfed in the tournaments and attended the galas with Mary.
My hear breaks for Mary and Greg's family to lose such a special soul. He will always be remembered by me as "my first crush".
with sincere thoughts and love, Stacey Redman
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I first met Greg at San Carlos High School. We played 4 years of basketball and baseball together, and became good friends. After graduation we both went to San Jose State where we were roommates for 3 years. Greg played freshman basketball and I played freshman baseball, and we both became English majors. We joined Kappa Sigma fraternity our sophomore year, and continued playing intramural sports together. I guess you could say we spent nearly 10 years as teammates. We also were co-lead singers in a band called "Just Us'', and actually opened at the SC County Fairgrounds for Janis Joplin and the Association. Greg and I followed similar paths after graduation, both becoming English teachers and coaches. We stayed in contact throughout the years, and played golf together after our retirements from teaching. Greg was also an usher in my wife's and my wedding. Our friendship for over 60 years is something I will value forever.
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I saw the news about Mr. Martin's (sorry, can't call him anything but that!) untimely passing while in Boston on a book tour for my latest book, and in the midst of my sadness I couldn't help shake the feeling that I might not be there, in that hotel room celebrating the success of this new book, if it wasn't for him. I tell this story often to audiences, so I'll tell it here: Mr. Martin was the first person to take me seriously as a writer, and he was the one who told me I could actually *be* a writer. It was during 11th grade Honors English and I had written my first short story. He pulled me aside and did that Serious-Mr.-Martin thing: looked me in the eyes, lowered his voice, said "You're REALLY good. You're a WRITER. You should take this seriously. You should major in Creative Writing." I didn't even know you COULD major in CW! He then created an award just for me: "Best Writer in 11th grade" and was just so damn supportive. It made such a huge impact on me, and I've never forgotten what that clear, direct, sincere encouragement did for me. I did major in CW, and got my MFA, and just released my 3rd NYT bestseller. I'm so glad that I've been able to see him over the years, especially when my mom was working at WGHS, so I *was* able to let him know the impact he had on me. So, thank you Mr. Martin!!!
Will and Danner and Mary and everyone, I'm so sorry for this loss. See you in October at the memorial. I'll be there with my family, and tons of others I'm sure.
Thank you Mr. Martin!
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We are deeply sorry for your loss Danner. Sending you and your family our hugs and love. x
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Sending condolences to the Martin and Tillman families. What an inspiring coach and mentor Greg was for both of our kids in Mock Trial. He will always be one of the teachers that our family remembers for the impact he made on not only our kids, but so many others that he expertly guided through a program that gave them confidence and life skills that would carry forward into their post-high school lives. It's clear that Greg loved his work with young people, and the kids he worked with are so lucky to have had him in their lives. He will be so missed.
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