Norma Martin celebrates 100 years - again

Centenarian, Vamo history buff and the oldest Realtor in Sarasota Norma Martin hosted a party for her 100th birthday Jan. 2, at the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant in Sarasota.

It was her second birthday party in a month — Rod Thomas, owner of Bentley’s Boutique Hotel and president of the Osprey Nokomis Chamber of Commerce, threw her a party in December, because he would be out of the country on her actual birthday.

Thomas and his wife, Kim, met Martin about six years ago at the opening of the refurbished hotel, he said.

“Norma reminds us so much of the time we worked with the royal household — she has a similar presence of character when she walks into a room to that of Her Majesty,” Thomas said in an email.

Martin did, in fact, wear a crown of flowers at her second birthday party at the church and greeted each of around 120 guests who attended.

The Rev. Michael Mansperger, of Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, said that Martin and her best friend, Dorothy Kirkpatrick, are both charter members of the church; they’ve both been attending since the doors opened in 1967.

Jim Pratt and Tom Cunningham both made jokes about Martin at the party, saying she showed Ponce de Leon a house when his ship landed in Florida, that the parade of homes was done on horseback then and that her first real estate license test was in stone.

“Here’s to another 100 years — the queen of Vamo,” Cunningham said.

Martin thanked all of her guests for coming and insisted each person take home a cupcake, which her daughter-in-law, Laura Martin, made.

“She’s my second mother,” Laura Martin said. “I try to live my life with her advice.”

Laura Martin met Martin before she met her future husband, Martin’s son, Dave.

“I hit it off with her,” she said.

Even though her husband died last January, Laura Martin has continued to live next door to Martin. Laura Martin, a published author, is working on a novel based on Martin’s life.

“I look up to her,” she said. “I hope to be like her.”

FIRST SALE
Norma Martin had been helping the minister of Pine Shores Presbyterian Church welcome new people into the church family. Eventually, she ran out of people to visit. In 1955 she decided to get her real estate license to find new people. E.J. Bacon, a licensed broker, agreed to sponsor her, but was skeptical.

“You don’t know anything about real estate,” Bacon said.

Martin passed her Realtor exam on a Friday and got a listing Sunday morning at church. At a party that evening, she told everyone about the $15,500 home. A man asked to see the house. Monday morning after a tour, he helped Martin write up a contract and wrote her a check. She ran into Bacon’s office saying, “I sold a house! I sold a house!”