Martin David Doerner, 50, of San Mateo, California died May 3, 2011 of end stage renal failure. Martin most recently worked as an ESL teacher and career coach at the San Mateo Adult School and Workers Resource Center. He was a dedicated and caring professional who helped many people and touched many lives. The past several years he focused his efforts on assisting the immigrant community in the San Mateo area.

Martin was born on May 13, 1960 in Terre Haute, Indiana. He was the son of John W. and Mary Jane Doerner. He is survived by his six brothers and one sister: Tom and Laurie Doerner (Broken Arrow), Kathy and Jim Hall (Muskogee), Billy and Kathleen Doerner (Chiang Mai, Thailand), Michael and Rieko Doerner (Shizuoka, Japan), Jim and Suzanne Doerner (Greeley, Colorado), and Brian and Tim Doerner (both of Muskogee). Nieces and nephews, Ben and Sam Doerner, James Hall, Sarah and Rosemary Doerner, Shina and Tabby Doerner, Molie, Emily and Grace Doerner and a godson, Cristofer V. Fuentes.

Martin graduated from Muskogee High School in 1978 and Oklahoma University in 1982. Among his many accomplishments, he won a Monbusho Fellowship from the Education Ministry of Japan, he earned a Master's degree from San Francisco State University (summa cum laude), and he received the distinguished graduate student award. He cofounded and developed the Passport to Employment curriculum and methodology for helping immigrants find work in the SF Bay area.

A memorial service will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Friday, May 13 at 10:00 a.m. Donations in memory of Martin may be made to the Martin Doerner Memorial Scholarship Fund at BancFirst in Muskogee in care of Jim Hall.

[Muskogee Daily Phoenix, May 11, 2011]

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Read a tribute to Martin written by one of his students here.