Martin is lovingly remembered for the joy he embodied, the love he radiated, and his delight in all things beautiful. For his exuberant impulse to move to the music—whether it was on the dancefloor, in the mosh-pit, or in the middle of the kitchen. For his playful sense of humour and his infectious laughter. For the love he shared with his partner John, a love so deep it seemed the two of them were one. For the loving bond he shared with his mother, from childhood through the later years of her life in care. For his innate appreciation of art—on the walls of museums or in objects of the natural world—and for his own artistic creativity.
The joy and love Martin shared with so many in his life remains a source of comfort to his family as they grieve his loss—to his partner John Clark; his sisters Céline (Franc Roiron), Dominique, Hélène (Leonard Bergmame), and Brigitte (François Giroux); his nieces and nephews Mischa, Élise, Isabelle, Pierre, Anne, Jean-Philippe, Vincent, and Marie-Andrée; and John’s brother Kenneth (Pamela Lockman). Martin’s six grandnieces and grandnephews will remember him as a loving and attentive great-uncle.
Martin’s many, many friends and colleagues who knew and loved him as a joyful presence in their lives are all deeply saddened by his death.
Martin grew up in Old Ottawa South and Alta Vista with his sisters and parents, the late Robert and Micheline Paris. He attended Charlebois High School, graduating in 1980. He graduated from the University of Ottawa in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in education and began his teaching career the following year in the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, teaching French immersion for more than thirty years. He was a natural-born teacher, applying his talents outside the classroom from time to time at the Canada Museum of Science and Technology, the Canadian Museum of Nature, and the National Gallery of Canada. After his retirement, he appreciated the opportunity to work as a part-time mentor for new teachers. He also volunteered as a tutor at Centennial Public School and in the Ottawa Public Library’s reading program, where both the kids in the program and their parents valued the help he gave the kids with their reading skills.
A celebration of Martin’s life will be held on Saturday, January 10th, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in the Sacred Space at Beechwood Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa, followed by a reception.
Donations in Martin’s memory to Plan International or UNICEF, programs that Martin supported for many years, would be greatly appreciated.
Digital Guestbook
Charlotte Brennan
Eileen Mageau
Goodbye my sweet, sweet friend. Some stars shine so brightly that they are unsustainable and we are left with stardust. To John and to Martin's family and friends I have no words to convey my sorrow for our loss. Merci Martin for all of the joy and laughter. I will carry your memory and all of those crazy cards with me always. Gentle travels out there in the universe. I know you have us with you as we have you with us.
Lynne Sylvestre
À toute la grande famille Paris, je vous offre mes plus sincères condoléances. Martin, votre frère, votre beau frère, votre oncle, votre cousin était une personne bien spéciale. J’ai eut le privilège d’être son amie depuis plusieurs années. Une personne remplie de bonne humeur, d’énergie et de joie. Pour moi, c’était Martin. Je vais manquer ses petites farces envoyées par texte. Il savait me faire rire même quand j’étais au loin.
Il était tellement fière de ses sœurs, ses nièces et ses neveux. Il vous adorait et il ne manquait jamais de me montrer ses photos de vous tous.
Notre perte est grande. Je souhaite que vos beaux souvenirs vous apportent du réconfort. Même si je suis au loin et je ne peux pas être présente, je serai certainement avec vous en pensées.
Nicole Garand
À la douce mémoire de Martin, qui par sa joie de vivre a apporté beaucoup de bonheur à son conjoint, sa famille et ses amis. Je vous offre mes plus sincères sympathies. Il est parti mais il ne sera pas oublié.
Odette Martel
Pour John et la famille Paris-
My heart aches for you. Martin and I went to Charlebois together. He made high school bearable! We hung around a lot, listening to records and mocking people in his big bedroom above the garage at his parents' house. He helped shape my taste in music (Elvis C!) and would crack me up with his clever doodles in class and get me in trouble when I burst out laughing. Martin was a unique and beautiful person and, although it's been over 40 years, I will miss him.
He may have been the best friend I ever had.
Madz Atkinson
I am John Atkinson’s daughter and I just wanted to mention how much I loved Martin. I loved to laugh with him, gossip together and I always hoped to see him whenever my dad and his friends got together. My condolences to his family and all of his friends.
It has been years since I taught with Martin at both First Avenue Public School and Mutchmor Public School, yet his infectious humour and joie-de-vivre are so easily remembered. He was truly one of a kind; making everyone feel welcome and always helpful to the new teachers. His love of dancing was legendary and if anyone knew how to enjoy a great party, it was Martin. The world is a lesser place without his light shinning but heaven’s all dancing away to David Byrne and Supertramp.