Martha Holman Prochnik

Martha Holman Prochnik of Old Saybrook Connecticut, and formerly St. Michaels, Maryland, died Friday, April 30, with her children at her side. Born March 30, 1930 in Niagara Falls, NY, she was the daughter of the late H. Russell Holman and Hallie Davis Holman of Marion, Indiana, and Port Isobel, Indiana, respectively. Martha Prochnik resided in Lakewood, Ohio, from 1934 to 1954. In 1952, she received a liberal arts degree from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, having declared a double major in English and sociology. From 1952 to 1954, she worked at the Cleveland Clinic. Martha Prochnik met her husband, Edgar Stirling Prochnik (formerly of Washington DC) in the fall of 1953 while he was conducting business in the U.S. In May of 1954, Martha accompanied her parents on a vacation to Europe and was re-acquainted with Ed Prochnik. He courted her during their travels through Italy, France, Switzerland, and Austria and on July 7, 1954, Martha and Ed were married in Paris, France. Mr. Prochnik was involved in the management of Union Carbide’s European subsidiaries, and they resided in Milan, Italy, and Menaggio, Lake Como, and Italy from 1954 to 1966, and in Lausanne, Switzerland, and Geneva, Switzerland, until 1972, moving then to Greenwich, Connecticut. In 1984, they built their dream home in St. Michaels, Maryland. Mrs. Prochnik moved to Old Saybrook, Connecticut, in 2005, nine years after her husband passed away from cancer in St. Michaels. Martha Prochnik was a warm, intelligent, exceptionally kind person. Her love and priority in life was family, from immediate family to extended family. She was an exceptionally gracious person who had the gift of making people feel welcomed. Martha had a great respect for other cultures and made it a priority to learn, fluently, the languages of the countries in which she lived, and to understand the people of those countries. She volunteered throughout her life with hospital organizations and after the death of her husband, with hospice. Martha was an avid reader, lover of history and a fabulous cook. Her ability to create a fun, interesting, comfortable environment was what drew people to her; but it was her unending love, kindness, optimism and unwavering support that will be missed by all. Mrs. Prochnik is survived by one son, E. James Prochnik, his wife, Cindy S. Prochnik ,and their son Tyler J. Prochnik of Madison, CT; twin daughters, Valerie P. Donoghue and her husband Daniel R. Donoghue of San Diego, CA, and Ellen P. Marello and her husband Matthew Marello; granddaughter, Alexandra Elizabeth Marello of New York, NY; one sister, Margaret H. Rayle and her husband Dr. Albert Rayle of Atlanta, GA; and eleven nephews and nieces. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 26th at 1:00 p.m. at Oxford Cemetery Columbarium, Oxford, MD, with a reception following at the Inn at 202 Dover, Easton, MD. Memorial Donations may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care, Middlesex Hospital, 28 Crescent Street, Middletown, CT 06457.

Martha Holman Prochnik

March 30, 1930 - April 30, 2010