United Way & Volunteer Center Mourns
Loss of Community Champion
November 19, 2003 - Joseph Martella,
56, passed away on Sunday in his home after a valiant
fight with cancer. Martella, Director of Development
for Greater Ottawa County United Way & Volunteer
Center, was an extraordinary volunteer and staff person
for the organization after (and during) a career in
human resources at GHSP and Nicholas Plastics for over
20 years.
“We lost a great community champion.” Says
Joan Mack, Interim Executive Director, Greater Ottawa
County United Way & Volunteer Center. “Joe
believed that the leaders of this community from Jenison
to Holland, from Zeeland to Coopersville, from Grand
Haven to Georgetown will always step up and invest in
this county’s success. If he encountered people
who could not see the vision, he would remind them what
the vision is. He will be missed by me personally and
I know his friends and co-workers are feeling his loss.”
Joe Martella wore many hats at United Way & Volunteer
Center, the last of which was Director of Resource Development
over the past year. Martella was also a lead volunteer
with United Way & Volunteer Center for nearly 10
years as a United Way Board member in the Tri-Cities
and Northeast Ottawa areas, co-chair of the industrial
portion of campaign in the Tri-Cities area, Vice President
of Agency Relations, and leadership committee member
for Greater Ottawa County United Way & Volunteer
Center. He was also a community volunteer as a mentor
through the HOSTS academic mentoring program in Allendale
and Grand Haven, and a political activist among many
others.
“He had a strong affinity for the everyday person
and the issues that they endured. “ Says Frank
Nagy, former GHSP employee and friend of Martella’s.
“He was most interested in helping people and
that is why I think he believed so strongly in United
Way.”
Martella was key in bringing all of the parties to
the table to work together in the process of merging
four United Ways into Greater Ottawa County United Way
& Volunteer Center. He will be missed but his legacy
and passion for our community and human life will live
on.
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