Christopher "Chris" Martin was born on February 7, 1953, in Springfield, Massachusetts, to Joseph and Rosemary Martin. One of ten children, Chris grew up alongside his five sisters—Therese, Mary, Bernadette, Elizabeth, and Virginia—and his four brothers—Thomas, Joseph, Luke, and Francis. He spent his childhood in Somers, Connecticut, and in his twenties made his way to Florida, a move that would change his life forever.

In Fort Lauderdale in 1973, Chris met the love of his life, Osami. She lived in a homestay house, while Chris occupied one of the attached apartments. He immediately began courting her in the sweetest ways—sending flowers, finding reasons to stop by, and quietly admiring her for months before they officially began dating. When he learned that Osami often went to bed hungry after nights of TV dinners with her host family, he insisted on taking her out for steak dinners nearly every evening while they were dating.

One year later, in October of 1974, Chris and Osami were married in Tokyo, Japan—a place that would forever hold a special place in his heart.

In 1977, they settled in Southern California, where Chris built a long and successful career in the grocery industry, working tirelessly from 1976 until his retirement in 2009. Together, Chris and Osami raised three children—Luke, Jennifer, and Christina—in Irvine, California. Chris was a devoted provider, a hardworking father, and a deeply loving husband. He was always joking with his family, breaking into spontaneous dances, and proudly telling anyone who would listen how much he adored Osami. He called her the cutest pet names—his favorite being "strawberry shortcake with whipped cream and a cherry on top"—a term of endearment he used until his final days.

Chris lived life with enthusiasm and warmth. He loved golf and was an excellent player, even earning a PGA hole-in-one certificate. He enjoyed suspense novels, beach dates with his wife, trying new restaurants, and traveling—especially to Japan, which he truly loved. He took daily walks through the neighborhood, chatting with friends along the way. When his children were young, he delighted in taking his family on vacations, especially summer trips to his favorite resorts in Mexico. In the winter, Chris loved heading to the mountains with his family for ski trips. As his children grew older, he cherished traveling with them and taking special cruises with Osami.

He was also the proud and affectionate "dog dad" to Skippy, Aichan, Rosie, and Cookie, and never missed a chance to cheer on his favorite teams—especially during Angels games with his wife. Above all, he loved talking about his children and grandchildren and was endlessly proud of them.

Chris passed away peacefully at home, with Osami holding his hand at his bedside. He left this world surrounded by love, with his children, their spouses, and his grandchildren visiting him daily. His sister Mary even visited to reminisce about their childhood and laugh over stories from their days in Connecticut. True to who he was, Chris made jokes until the very end, determined to keep everyone smiling. He happily accepted compliments about his legs and took every opportunity to show them off from his hospital bed—always finding a way to lighten the mood. That was Chris: joyful, playful, and focused on savoring life right up to his last day.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Osami; his son Luke and daughter-in-law Madoka; his daughter Jennifer, son-in-law Andrew, and granddaughter Hana; and his daughter Christina, son-in-law Marc, and granddaughters Sage and Clover.

Chris will be remembered for his humor, generosity, devotion to family, and the immense love he shared so freely. His legacy lives on in the laughter he inspired, the stories he told, and the family he cherished above all else.

A memorial service celebrating Chris' life will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2026. The service will take place from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., followed by a reception from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., where family and friends are warmly invited to gather and share memories.

Both events will be held at McCormick & Son Mortuaries and Crematory, located at 1795 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California 92651.