Steven R. Martel

Steven R. Martel, of Stafford Springs, CT, died unexpectedly in his home early Sunday morning, October 22, 2023. He is preceded in death by his father, Henry R. Martel of Springfield, MA. Steven was born on the 4th of July in 1955 in Springfield, MA. He graduated from Somers High School in 1973 and the Connecticut School of Broadcasting in 1978 with a Degree in Radio and Television Announcing. Steven also received a Certification from The Federal Communications Commission. This license authorized him to operate radio telephones for the maritime and aviation industries. Steven loved to learn, and in 1983, he attended the University of Connecticut for Certification from the School of Business Administration and Management. He had an entrepreneurial spirit and ran various businesses, including a home renovation business, property management, a machine shop, freelance photography, a liquor store, and, most recently, a stereo and sound system building and repair business. Steven played guitar, loved to sing karaoke, and was an avid public speaker, announcing at numerous sporting events, including the Quaboag Motorcycle Riders Club of Monson, MA, and various charities like Rotary and the Lions Club. He was also enthusiastic about motorcycles of all kinds: his 69’BSA A6J and 67” Triumph T120 gained him entry into the legendary “59 Club” of the United Kingdom, and he was also a lifetime member of The Quaboag Riders. However, nothing could replace his passion for luge racing. Steven spent many years competing in Lake Placid with Olympic-class athletes while a member of the United States Luge Association and the Adirondack Luge Club in the Empire State Games. Steven left behind his Mother, Rosemary Hughes Johnson; Stepfather, Jim Jonson; Sister, Kimberly Hughes Ellis, all of St. Petersburg, FL; and companion, Robin Marie Grover of Stafford Springs, CT. He will be deeply missed by his friends and family and all who knew him. A memorial service for Steven will be held on Friday, January 5, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. at Introvigne Funeral Home, Inc., 51 East Main St., Stafford Springs, CT. Burial at St. Edward Cemetery, Stafford Springs, CT will be private. Memorial donations may be made to the ASPCA, P.O. Box 96929, Washington DC, 20090-6929. To leave a message of sympathy for his family, or for directions, please visit: www.introvignefuneralhome.com