“Maybe people don’t understand I’m just a simple person happy doing simple things,” Dr. Mike Martini told the Palisadian-Post. “I’m a lucky pediatrician and a lucky Palisadian.”
The ever-humble retired doctor and war veteran met with the Post on Aug. 21 to talk about his life as a pediatrician, American Legion member and Palisadian.
Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
Martini spoke in the decorated “trophy room” of his house in the Alphabet Streets, where the walls are lined with family photos, vintage bobble-heads, souvenir mugs, trophies, awards and plaques given to him and his family over the years.
At 89 years young, Martini has been a resident of the Palisades since 1954 and has been infusing lives with his caring and compassion for just as long.
Martini is a 50-year member of the American Legion Post 283 and is a former commander and a district level commander.
Photo: Frances Sharpe
Martini has also been a member of the Optimist Club since 1996. He has facilitated the collaboration of the American Legion and the Optimist Club to host a blood drive for about 10 years.
“I keep trying to make it a community blood drive,” Martini said, expressing his high hopes that the blood drive on Sept. 7 at Corpus Christi Church will be more successful than ever this year.
Martini knows a thing or two about making a difference in the lives of others, and the upcoming blood drive is just the tip of the iceberg of a lifetime of service.
A Career in Service Begins
Martini graduated from Loyola High School in 1942 near the dawn of World War II and started pre-medical school at UCLA. He got into the Navy program and was sent to Long Beach Naval Hospital where he spent six months as a corpsman before attending medical school in Saint Louis.
Martini would go on to serve two years in the Korean War.
Photo courtesy of Dr. Martini
“It was strange,” Martini said. “The first call was the Army needed more doctors so they transferred a lot of us Navy doctors to help with the Army. I’d only had about four months of pediatric training so they really couldn’t use me on the front lines as a surgeon, so I went from one dispensary to another.”
Martini would soon serve in enemy territory in North Korea on a ship in Wonsan Harbor.
“Every now and then they’d try shelling us and one time they did hit us,” he told the Post, claiming he and the crew were lucky the damage to the ship was limited and the only casualty was one man’s fractured femur.
“It’s an experience I’m glad I went through,” Martini said of his military career. “I’m happy that I was able to serve my country.”
A Pediatrician Is Born
Martini finished his medical residency at L.A. General Hospital in pediatrics, a career inspired by his love of children and his mother’s encouragement.
“When I was a little boy my mother took me to the pediatrician and said, ‘Would you like to be a baby doctor?’ And I liked babies. From a very young age, I wanted to be a pediatrician,” Martini said.
Martini’s eyes filled with tears, catching him by surprise, when he spoke further of the major impact his mother had on his life. He credits her for his career, making sure he was a good Catholic and giving him financial support when he needed it.
Martini went on to have a decades-long career as a pediatrician in the Palisades. A fixture in the community, he shared an office with Dr. Russell on the corner of Via de la Paz and Antioch.
Meeting the Love of His Life
Martini really lit up when asked about his wife Elaine.
“I thought she was a young high school girl and found out she was a sophomore in college,” he said of his wife of 65 years. While still in medical school, Martini and his then-girlfriend went on a double date with another couple. He and the other man got to be friends and Martini ended up stopping by his house one evening for dinner.
“He didn’t say anything about a sister,” Martini said, laughing and remembering the first time he saw Elaine coming down the stairs.
A series of dates followed suit and led up to their eventual marriage on June 11, 1949. The couple went on to have six children, 15 grandchildren and a growing number of great-grandchildren.
“I’ve been blessed with 65 years of married life and a wonderful family, 42 years of pediatric practice I enjoyed and the years of retirement that I’ve had,” Martini said.
The years have certainly not contributed to any trace of ego, however.
Martini said, “I don’t think I’ve had any impact [on the community]. I’m just happy to be able to volunteer to do something when asked.”
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