Martin Harry Trauger

Martin Harry Trauger was born December 18, 1951, in Pendleton, Oregon to Harry and Virginia Trauger, the second of five children. He passed away May 27, 2026 after a long, courageous battle with Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma and pneumonia.

In 1971, the Navy sent him to Jacksonville, Florida where at the beach one day, a girl with long red hair stole his car and took it for a joyride down the beach. No one could have foreseen this was the beginning of a 54-year love story (especially considering the fact that Cindy referred to him as “dumdum” for the first month or so she knew him).

Martin and Cynthia married on June 10, 1972. Their daughter, Amy, was born in December in Altoona, Pa. They moved back to Jacksonville, Florida a couple of years later where Martin began his lifelong law enforcement career. Son Thomas arrived in November of 1976.

They lived in Jacksonville for the next several decades as Marty worked for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office as a Corrections Officer, Atlantic Beach Police Department for many years as a patrolman and a detective, Mayport Naval Station as the Chief of Police, and eventually the Federal Government as an Emergency Management Coordinator.

Some of his proudest work, however, was as a Police Academy Program Liaison for Florida State College at Jacksonville in a program he was instrumental in helping to create. In this role, he mentored hundreds of police recruits as they began their law enforcement journeys. Many of those recruits are still serving in law enforcement today and remember him fondly for the guidance he provided and the constant, unwavering belief he had in their potential. Among those he inspired was his niece Abigail, and with his steadfast love, encouragement, and support she pursued a career in law enforcement, becoming an officer and later a detective with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. His impact on the lives of all of these men and women stands as a lasting testament to his dedication to helping others succeed.

As much as he loved and was fulfilled by his work, Martin was, at heart, a friend and family man who spent as much time as he could with those he loved. His children clearly remember long car rides that often began with something like, “Hey, we’re going to go find snow today!” They remember the day the family drove more than 300 miles just to have a picnic in St. Augustine, only 40 miles from home, and the picnic at the North Carolina–South Carolina state line in 40-degree weather, when Martin cheerfully told Cindy and the kids, “Wave! Smile! Make people think we’re having fun! The ice on your nose will build character!” There were also Easters in St. Augustine and Fourth of July celebrations at a riverfront hotel in downtown Jacksonville, where they watched fireworks from a seventh-floor balcony and laughed about the traffic below once the show ended. More than anything, he loved being with his wife and children and cherished time together as a family, even after the kids were grown and on their own.

He seldom sat still. He was always doing something around the house or doing woodworking (a hobby he discovered after his first retirement). The moment anyone needed help with anything, all they had to do was call and he would be there either to help or help find someone who could.

After Cindy retired, they moved to Marion, North Carolina, to fulfill their longtime dream of living in the mountains. Retirement, however, didn’t slow Martin down for long. Never one to sit still, he got not one, but two post-retirement jobs. He worked at Lowes in Marion where he quickly became well known and beloved by both coworkers and customers for his friendly personality and willingness to help others. He also served as a safety officer at the McDowell County Shooting Range, a role that allowed him to continue sharing his knowledge, experience, and commitment to safety with the community he loved. Whether in his career, his retirement, or his everyday life, Martin found purpose in serving others and building connections wherever he went.

When he wasn’t working, Martin and Cindy could often be found wearing matching t-shirts and heading out on what they affectionally called their “meandering” adventures. Along the way, Martin mastered the art of driving just the right way to ensure Cindy could capture the perfect picture from the passenger seat of his beloved truck. The purpose of these drives was simple: to discover at least one road they had never traveled before. Together they explored countless back roads, scenic vistas, and hidden corners of the mountains they had come to love. These adventures were among their greatest joys, creating memories filled with laughter, companionship, and shared appreciation for the beauty around them.

And then there were the Dad jokes. Martin was a Dad Joke master, firmly convinced that making people groan, face palm, then laugh entirely unwillingly was one of life’s greatest gifts.

Martin was also a firm believer in the concept of “family doesn’t end in blood”. He had so many “kids from other DNA” as Cindy coined the term. These included Rob & Janel Phelan and Janna; Paul and Anne-Marie Traylor and Finn and Bea; Chris and Becki Blenker and Jenna and Andrew; Kristin Kessler and Georgia, Charlotte, and Lila; Amanda Lutze and Brayden and Lillian, and Nancy Davis.

Some of Amy’s favorite memories are the ones that reflect the pride, love, and unwavering support that defined their relationship. She will always remember how proud he was when she became a police dispatcher for JSO, and even prouder when she took and passed the supervisor’s examination for the JSO Comm Center. No matter the accomplishment, big or small, he was always her biggest supporter. She loved hearing him say “Have fun storming the castle!” each time she left for work. Once, he drove a new stove all the way from North Carolina to Florida for her, giving them several days to hang out together. Among her most treasured memories are those from Christmas 2025 when Marty and Cindy visited her in Florida. One of the highlights of the trip was being taken out on a JSO Marine Unit boat by Mirza, an experience that Marty thoroughly enjoyed and talked about often. During that same visit, he and Amy spent a day exploring the USS Orleck Naval Museum aboard the retired naval destroyer. She loved watching him read every plaque, share stories from his time in the Navy, and stubbornly – but determinedly – climb ladder after ladder to explore the different decks. Seeing him relive those memories and reconnect with a part of his life that meant so much to him made the day unforgettable.

Tom’s memories of his father come in broad swathes of thoughts continuously rushing in from throughout his entire life. It’s still extremely difficult for him to fully comprehend that he, and everyone else who knew and loved Marty so much, has had to say goodbye. For the most part Tom will remember the unyielding love, encouragement and guidance his father gave him, regardless of what his hopes and dreams happened to be at that moment. He was very proud of his dad and was always grateful that he was lucky enough to have him as a father. He remembers his dad constantly educating him on ways to be a better, stronger person no matter what life throws at you. He never gave up on anything or anyone. His father built the foundation for Tom’s life, and he wanted to be just like him, to be able to influence the world with the same kind of love and respect that people saw in his dad, to have the tireless energy and compulsive optimism his father had. Martin was a powerful force, a man who could always show strength, compassion and constructive honesty like no one has known since. He was compulsively optimistic and incredibly kind. While Thomas will miss his dad every day, he’s eternally grateful he had him. Tom’s memories will continue to come back to him in ways and at times he cannot predict, so he will just do his best to remember how it was when his father was here, because when he thinks about it, those memories were always good ones.

Martin was pre-deceased by his parents Harry & Virginia, his sister Louise, and Mother-In-Love, Minerva.

He is survived by his one true love Cynthia and his two children, Amy and Thomas. He also leaves behind a brother, Jack, and two sisters, Diane and Glenda, a sister-in-law Julie, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who will never forget him.

No services are planned at this time, but the family will likely plan a celebration of life for Martin sometime in the fall.

Cindy, Amy, and Thomas want to thank everyone who was there with support and prayers during the last few years while Martin fought cancer and then pneumonia. The love we felt, and that we know Martin felt, was a source of strength and comfort throughout the journey. Your kindness, encouragement, visits, messages, and prayers meant more than words can express. We are deeply grateful for the compassion you showed our family and for the many ways you helped carry us through some of our most difficult days. Martin knew he was loved, and that knowledge brought him great peace and comfort. We will always cherish the support and friendship you shared with him and us.