Martin C. Jorgensen

Martin Carl Jorgensen, 84, passed away at his home in Ithaca, NY, on August 12, 2026.
Martin was born on November 4, 1941, to Wilbur and Dorothy Olmstead Jorgensen, in Waterloo, NY. His family moved to Massachusetts, and he had many fond memories of his younger childhood in Fairhaven, MA. His family later moved back to the Finger Lakes region of NY, where his family lived on the family farm in Hall, NY.
Martin graduated from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, in 1963 with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering. After graduation, he remained in Ithaca and worked in CALS as a Graphic Designer in their department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, with his major focus on research in post-harvest storage techniques for fruits and vegetables. He worked for over 30 years at Cornell and raised his family in Ithaca. He served his local community for several years as a volunteer firefighter with the Brooktondale Volunteer Fire Company. He will be remembered for his love and commitment to family by the fun he had in tracing family genealogy, traveling, boating and water skiing on the Finger Lakes, camping, family gatherings/reunions, and traveling to antique automobile shows, along with numerous slides of these trips.
He is survived by his brother, David L. (Barbara) Jorgensen; his brother Steve’s partner, Dan Laliberte; his children, David O. (Kathleen) Jorgensen; his daughter, Karen (Mark) Miles; his son, William “Bill” Jorgensen; his grandsons, Erik Jorgensen, Zachary Jorgensen, Aaron Jorgensen and Jason Fields; and his granddaughters, Caitlin (Corey) Cooke and Jennifer (Rafael) Fields; as well as several great-grandchildren. He is also remembered with love by many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.
Martin was predeceased by both of his parents, as well as two of his brothers, Stephen “Steve” Jorgensen, Richard “Dick” Jorgensen and his wife, Liliane; and his daughter, Elisabeth “Betsy” Zulick.
In keeping with Martin’s wishes, there will be no formal funeral or memorial service. A family celebration of his life will be held at the Little Church Cemetery in Hall, New York, on September 26, 2026, at noon.
Donations in remembrance of Martin can be made to the Jett Foundation, to help with medical research for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in honor of his grandson, Aaron.