Paso Robles mayor says goodbye in touching letter read at council meeting after his death

Mayor Steve Martin addressed the people of Paso Robles one final time in a touching letter written prior to his death and presented at Tuesday’s City Council meeting by Former Atascadero Mayor Tom O’Malley, who was a close personal friend and colleague of Martin’s.

Martin died Monday at the age of 71, the city announced on Tuesday.

In the letter, Martin shared new details about his battle with an aggressive form of cancer, which he only learned about as he prepared for his new term as mayor following his re-election in November 2022.

“As I write this, I expect to have little time left in this world,” he wrote in the letter. “I wish for everyone to know that I had no idea of what was happening in my body as I campaigned for office. If that was the case, I would never have run or would have dropped out of the race.”

The letter shares Martin’s longtime love for the North County communities of Atascadero, where he was born and educated, and Paso Robles, where he served as mayor and raised his family.

“I am a man of two cities, having grown up in Atascadero and lived my adult life in Paso Robles,” he wrote. “I am a man of a simple purpose, however, and that is to serve my North County community and treat everyone, supporter, and detractor alike, with dignity, compassion, and respect.”

Martin thanked his family, friends and colleagues while at the same time reaching out to opponents one last time with the kind of humility and grace he was known for.

“I trust I have succeeded most of the time,” he wrote. “To those who feel I have failed, I ask your forgiveness. To those who now feel they may have wronged me, I offer my forgiveness.”

He concluded the letter with a final call for unity from the citizens of Paso Robles.

“Now, as always, I hold all of you and our community in my heart, urging you to let your differences be subordinate to your desire to care for one another,” he wrote. “Remember to stay informed, stay involved, and stay strong, Paso Robles.”

“God bless you all and farewell.”

Read below to see the full text of the letter.

Paso Robles City Council, community remember Steve Martin

Martin’s colleagues shared memories of him during Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, saluting a man who was not only deeply dedicated to his community — but a dear friend.

City Council member Fred Strong said his final meeting with Martin — “after many, many meetings during the 43-plus years of knowing each other” — was on Friday.

Though he was weakened due to his illness, during their 20-minute conversation Strong said Martin did not want to talk about himself.

“He talked about the city,” Strong said tearing up. “He talked about the people. We should take care of each other. That ... that was Steve.”

Councilman Steve Gregory described Martin as “just a wonderful man.”

“The most important thing to me about Steve is that he cared — he cared so much,” Gregory said. “He loved his family, and he loved doing what he was doing as the mayor.”

Martin’s commitment to not only Paso Robles but also other North County communities like Atascadero was also remarked upon by members of the public who gathered to honor him during the meeting.

“His impact on Atascadero must be significant — there’s three mayors from Atascadero here,” former Atascadero Mayor Ray Johnson said. Current Atascadero Mayor Heather Moreno was also in attendance and spoke.

“He had a steady hand on the tiller,” Johnson continued. “You always knew when he spoke, he spoke the truth. He did his homework, he was easy to work with. He served well. He’ll be missed both as a colleague, as a public servant and as a friend.”

Martin’s life and career accomplishments were recognized by Congressman Jimmy Panetta in an email statement to The Tribune Tuesday night.

“With the passing of Mayor Martin, Paso Robles has lost a fierce champion and trusted leader, who loved his city and the neighbors that he served,” Panetta said. “For more than two decades, Mayor Martin worked hard to improve Paso Robles and build it into the city that it is today.”

“In the creation of the Paso Robles Wine Festival, the revitalization of our downtown, and his vision for the airport, Mayor Martin left a legacy for us to live up to in our continued public service,” Panetta continued. “He’ll long be remembered as a consummate public servant for the people of Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo County, who understood that impactful service is about passion, persistence, and pride for the place that we call home.”

The accolades for Martin extended beyond just San Luis Obispo County’s borders.

In a statement emailed to The Tribune on Tuesday night, state Sen. John Laird remembered Martin as a “true public servant” and a friend.

“Paso Robles has lost a true public servant and I have lost a friend,” Laird said. “I want to extend my sincerest condolences to Steve’s family on his passing. His dedication over the decades to enhancing the quality of life for everyone in Paso Robles truly defines his legacy as an elected official and life-long North County resident.”

Full text of Paso Robles Mayor Steve Martin’s letter

Paso Robles Council, Commissioners, city staff, friends in the Chamber of Commerce, Paso Robles Main Street, PRWCA, Hispanic Business Association, political colleagues, friends and supporters, people of Paso Robles:

I have asked Tom O’Malley, a longtime friend and former Mayor of Atascadero, to deliver this message. We worked together for 10 years when I served as the Executive Director of Main Street in Atascadero, then teamed up as “Dos Alcaldes” (Two Mayors) to create a strong partnership between our cities; a partnership that continues to flourish with the support of current Atascadero Mayor Heather Moreno.

For months you have noticed my absence at meetings and public functions. As I prepared to resume the position of Mayor for a third consecutive term, I learned that I had an aggressive form of cancer. Initial analysis indicated that surgery within a couple of months would probably cure me.

Unfortunately, complications intervened, giving the cancer the opportunity to spread and become incurable. As I write this, I expect to have little time left in this world. I wish for everyone to know that I had no idea of what was happening in my body as I campaigned for office. If that was the case, I would never have run or would have dropped out of the race.

I have made every effort to do my job as Mayor while fighting this disease, attending meetings virtually, receiving updates from staff, etc. What I have included in this note will fall far short of all I wish to say to you.

I am a man of two cities, having grown up in Atascadero and lived my adult life in Paso Robles. I am a man of a simple purpose, however, and that is to serve my North County community and treat everyone, supporter, and detractor alike, with dignity, compassion, and respect.

I trust I have succeeded most of the time. To those who feel I have failed, I ask your forgiveness. To those who now feel they may have wronged me, I offer my forgiveness.

I face the future with regrets about all I leave unfinished: spaceport, solutions for homelessness, serving as a board member for League of California Cities, Community Hospital Board, broadband access, and all the projects with our city’s partners, committees, and community service organizations.

I also face the future with wonderful memories of family, friends, and colleagues. I feel honored to have worked with such caring and competent Council members and such talented and dedicated staff.

I am also humbled and thankful for the outpouring of support from so many who have wished me well, most not really knowing the challenges I faced. Thank you all for your love and caring.

As a Christian, I move toward the rest of God’s plan for me even as I wave goodbye to everyone and everything.

He has provided during my lifetime including my wonderful, loving wife (Jennifer); my beautiful, talented, and accomplished daughters (Nora, Jamie, and spiritual daughter Keri); my sons-in-law (Todd and Paul); my grandchildren (Abigail, Steven, Malcolm, Caleb); my parents and my brother and sisters; and my solid family of lifelong friends.

I love you all and hope to see you all again one fine day.

I thank Tom O’Malley for helping me share these thoughts.

Serving as Mayors at the same time was a luxury and a privilege.

We were always good therapists for each other as we worked to make our cities even more beautiful and desirable places to live, work, and play, sharing a glass of chardonnay along the way.

Now, as always, I hold all of you and our community in my heart, urging you to let your differences be subordinate to your desire to care for one another. Remember to stay informed, stay involved, and stay strong, Paso Robles.

God bless you all and farewell.

Steve Martin

Mayor, City of Paso Robles