DAVID BERT MARTIN

David Bert Martin, age 67, was born on July 29, 1954 in Evansville, Indiana and passed away of a heart attack on Friday, March 11, 2022 in Galveston, Texas. Dave derived genuine joy through his role as husband, father, and grandfather.

Dave was raised near Wrigley Field in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Following his undergraduate degree in Economics from DePaul University in 1976, Dave began his career in insurance at CNA and later joined Marsh McLennan as a broker. He then became risk manager at FMC Corporation and then First National Bank of Chicago. Dave completed his MBA at DePaul University in 1986. He later earned his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designations.

Following Dave’s marriage to Shelley Marie Starr on January 2, 1987, he moved to Texas and joined Johnson & Higgins. Dave had a thirst for knowledge and immersed himself in serving the oil and gas sector. He continued working at Marsh McLennan after its acquisition of Johnson & Higgins in 1997. Dave later joined Houston-based John L. Wortham & Son, LP and was a partner and managing director until Wortham Insurance was acquired by Marsh in 2018. Until his death, Dave worked with some of the firm’s largest and most important clients as a senior account executive. He will always be remembered as a true insurance professional and gentleman.

Dave had many passions, most notably he loved classic rock, playing guitar, walking his dear dog Charlie and his new pup Gracie, reading in the early morning, and, while he hit a lot of fat shots, he cherished the game of golf and his two holes-in-one. Dave and his father-in-law Papa Jack taught Dave’s two daughters to play golf, he organized family golf pools, and he often played rounds with dear friends and his son-in-law at Braeburn Country Club and Galveston Country Club. Additionally, Dave was an avid sports fan and watching the Masters, Blackhawks, Cubbies, Da Bears, and Astros brought him great joy.

Dave’s love of his family was unmatched. His wife and two daughters, “his girls”, were the light of his life. He looked forward to their family dinners, birthday celebrations and holidays. The family’s recent addition of Dave’s namesake, David Martin Vivrett, brought a constant smile to Papa Dave’s face. He treasured his time with his family and never let a day go by without letting them know how much he loved them.

Dave had an immense heart for others and said his time as a volunteer foster parent for Casa de Esperanza touched his life greatly; he encouraged others to consider this mission. Dave was an advisory board member of Casa de Esperanza and a former board member of Sheltering Arms Senior Services.

Dave was blessed by the friendship of many, including work colleagues, friends from St. Vincent de Paul, and friends in the Our Lady of Guadalupe Guild. He was a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and a parishioner of both St. Theresa Catholic Church and St. Anne Catholic Church.

Dave was preceded in death by his parents Ormand Bert Martin and Jessie

Hagan Martin, and his sister Deborah Martin. He was also preceded in death by his beloved in-laws Jack Thomas and Murelyn Butz Starr.

Dave led the way for his brother-in-law, Stormy Starr, who passed away a day later.

Dave is survived by his loving wife of thirty-five years, Shelley Marie Starr. He is also survived by their two daughters, Jaclyn Martin Vivrett, her husband John, and their son, David Martin Vivrett of Bellaire; and by Shannon Marie Martin of Austin. He is also survived by his brother-in-law Stacy Starr and wife Cindy. Dave cherished his nephews and their families, including Russell Starr and wife Kristine and their three children; Cody Starr and wife Jessica and their three children; Casey Starr; and Ryan Starr and his two children.

Dave was a true family man, a terrific colleague, a mentor to many, and a constant friend who will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He always gave of himself and had an innate, pure goodness that manifested itself in his effortless smile and laugh.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock until seven o’clock in the evening on Wednesday, the 23rd of March, at the Bradshaw-Carter Funeral Home, 1734 W. Alabama Street in Houston. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will commence at seven o’clock in the evening. The Funeral Mass will be held at eleven o’clock in the morning on Thursday, the 24th of March at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 6622 Haskell Street in Houston. A luncheon at

St. Theresa Catholic Church will immediately follow the Funeral Mass. There will be a private graveside service for the family.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Dave’s memory to Casa de Esperanza de los Niños, Inc., St. Agnes Academy, or the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at Baylor College of Medicine.