Growing up with Michael and his siblings, I was always struck by the fact that Mr. Martin, their father, was so engaged and concerned about the welfare of his children. In an era where so many children are growing up in single-parent households, Mr. Martin was a shining example of how strong African American families used to be. In turn, his children were equally devoted to him in his last years, a testament to the investment that he had made as a father. Susan Frazier-Kouassi