The Dracut Fire Department is mourning the death of active-duty Firefighter Jacob Martin in the wake of his death last week.
The Nashua, New Hampshire, resident was 32 years old when he died at Lahey Hospital in Burlington, Massachusetts, on Thursday following “a brief illness,” according to his obituary. He died before he was able to walk down the aisle with his fiancée, Aislinn Kearns.
“In his three years with us, he showed a quiet dedication to the job and a real eagerness to learn,” Dracut Fire Chief Michael Cunha said in a press release. “ … Jake was part of our family, and his presence will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege to work beside him.”
Jacob Martin’s life
Jacob P. Martin was born in Lowell on Feb. 4, 1993, to Dracut residents Paul and Sheila Martin, according to his obituary. He was educated in the Dracut Public Schools system and graduated from Greater Lowell Technical High School in 2011.
Prior to becoming a firefighter, Martin worked for Pridestar Trinity EMS in Lowell, the Dracut Fire Department said. He was in the process of earning a degree in fire science technology from Middlesex Community College when he died, according to his obituary.
Martin was a second-generation Dracut firefighter whose father still serves as a fire lieutenant, the department said. Though he also worked with his brother, Zachary Martin, at Martin Bros. Plumbing and Heating, becoming a firefighter was “a dream come true” for Martin, according to his obituary.
“When asked how he liked his job, he proudly responded, with a big smile on his face, ‘Best job evah!’” his obituary reads.
Martin joined the Dracut Fire Department immediately after graduating from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy in February 2023, the fire department said. He was assigned to Engine 2 and worked out of the Jones Avenue Fire Station.
“Firefighter Jake Martin was a true pleasure to be around — laid back, easygoing, and always ready with a smile,” Cunha said in the release. “ … He found joy in the little things — whether it was picking up his guitar during downtime at the station or stepping up to join the District 6 Forestry Hand Crew.”
Remembering Jacob Martin
Martin’s other big passion was music, according to his obituary. He regularly attended concerts put on by a wide range of musicians, and saw over 200 different artists play live with his brother alone. He also enjoyed treating his family to free tickets for concerts put on by rock icons.
“A gifted musician and self-taught student of music theory, he loved playing his guitar around a campfire or on the beach overlooking the ocean. And oh boy, did he love to dance,” his obituary reads.
Martin also loved nature, and could often be found zipping down a mountain on his snowboard, hiking mountains across New England and camping with friends and family, according to his obituary. He had “a bubbly personality” and a range of interests, including philosophy, yoga, chess, football, skateboarding and playing cards and Settlers of Catan.
“Jake was a free-spirit who lived life on his terms. He had the biggest personality, with a smile to match, which lit up any room he entered,” his obituary reads. “He was a true social butterfly who could spark a conversation with a stranger like they were an old friend.”
In addition to his fiancée, parents and brother, Martin leaves behind his sister, Angela DeMange, his best friend, Travis Martin, his godson and nephew, Lincoln, both his grandmothers and many other beloved friends and family members, according to his obituary. Those looking to honor his memory are asked to donate to an organ transplant service or the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Martin’s wake is scheduled to take place at Tyngsborough Funeral Home on Thursday, Sept. 25, from 3 to 7 p.m., according to his obituary. A funeral Mass is set to follow the next day at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Dracut at 10 a.m.