Statesman Journal's Pete Martini, who covered athletics with passion and dedication, dies
Pete Martini, a longtime sports reporter at the Statesman Journal who openly shared his cancer diagnosis in early 2021 followed by treatment plans, successes and setbacks, died Tuesday. He was 43.
Martini frequently posted matter-of-fact updates on his Facebook page and X (formerly Twitter), sent notes to colleagues and interviewed with sports writers and radio shows about "my battle with cancer." He acknowledged being overwhelmed but was eternally optimistic.
Colleagues and readers would ask why he was still working. Pete would not entertain taking time off when athletes were playing. He loved sharing their stories, and he loved the people he worked with.
Rough news yesterday that my cancer grew in the past 3 months. But we have a plan. Woke up this morning feeling pretty good that it’s a new day. I can’t wait to cover this fall sports season for the Statesman Journal, and begin my 22nd school year as a sports journalist. 🙏🏻 ❤️
— Pete Martini (@PeteMartiniSJ) August 18, 2023
When no longer able to leave home, he continued to report and relished debating subjects such as the prospects of high school quarterbacks, the muscle cars he liked best and the qualities of high school sports coaches.
Journalists he worked with shared praise for his encouragement of their work and reaching out to them, a testament to his influence in their lives and careers.
Sad news in Oregon, Salem Statesman writer Pete Martini, also an AP, Heisman, and Biletnikoff voter, has passed away. Thoughts are with his family. https://t.co/kK3XcHEhw4
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 8, 2023
“Pete’s passion for covering Mid-Valley high school sports was palpable," said Jonathan Williams, the Statesman's daily news and sports editor. "He loved his community. He will be greatly missed by his colleagues, readers and the countless athletes he covered.”
Martini grew up in Salem and graduated from Sprague High School, where he played football for coaches including Kary Hadden and Robin Hill. After graduating from the University of Oregon where he was a sports writer for The Daily Emerald, he was an intern at the Statesman Journal in the summer of 2001.
His first job out of college was covering public safety at the The Herald and News in Klamath Falls before moving to cover sports there and then becoming the sports editor.
Martini returned to Salem in 2006 as a sports copy editor at the Statesman Journal and a few years later transitioned to reporting on sports in the Silverton and Stayton areas. He was the sports producer from 2012-2015 and covered high school and college sports since then.
His last bylines published Monday.
Martini is survived by his father, Russell Martini of Salem, and his sister Kristin Jorgenson, brother-in-law Andrew Jorgenson, nephew Ashton Jorgenson and niece Addison Jorgenson, all of Kelso, Washington.
You can reach Statesman Journal executive editor Cherrill Crosby at crosbyc@statesmanjournal.com
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Statesman Journal sports reporter Pete Martini dies of cancer
