Obituary: Martin Horowitz

June 8, 1945 – October 30, 2024

Martin “Marty” Horowitz was born on June 8, 1945, in the Bronx, New York, to William (Bill) Horowitz and Mildred Sarah Goldberg and raised in Miami Beach, Florida. He passed away unexpectedly on October 30, 2024, in his beloved Aspen, Colorado.

Marty arrived in Aspen as a ski bum in 1968 with his twin brother, Steve, initially living in “the Barn” at the base of Aspen Mountain. Over the years, Marty embraced numerous roles, from working as a lineman for Bell Telephone and a carpenter building condos in Snowmass to a ski instructor at Buttermilk and a real estate agent. His passion for personal growth led him to teach seminars with Werner Erhard and through Global Relationship Centers. Later, he practiced as a psychotherapist and founded his general contracting company, Dreamworks Construction. Ever the entrepreneur, he founded several companies for the various inventions he developed.

A consummate inventor and tinkerer, Marty was always building something. He designed and constructed his first home, where one of his sons was born, and upgraded every house he lived in. His last home was a constant construction zone—a testament to his scrappy spirit—infused with his unique, eclectic touch. He was proud of every inch.

He loved the outdoors—skiing, snowshoeing up Aspen or Buttermilk, hiking, and camping in the Rockies. Like many Aspenites, his favorite place was hiking up Highlands Bowl for some powder, even when his body struggled to keep up with his youthful spirit. Whether flying planes, riding motorcycles, driving snowmobiles, or zooming down from the Bells on his bike, Marty had an insatiable love for speed and adrenaline.

He married his first wife, Martha Meagher, on the backside of Aspen Mountain, and together they raised their two sons, Jonah and Yuri, in Aspen. He taught them to ski and took them backpacking and on hut trips when they were young. He later married Olga Loutokhina and raised his stepdaughter, Maria, with the same adventurous spirit. He spent the last 18 years with his partner, Jo Lyn Watson.

Marty was integral to the fabric of Aspen throughout his life. He helped build the Friend’s Hut on Pearl Pass with Graeme Means, Jim Gebhart, and Robin Ferguson. He volunteered for the local mental health crisis hotline, participated in many political campaigns, and supported a nonprofit focused on restorative justice. Marty founded Peace Prayer Bowls, a nonprofit encouraging people to take a moment before meals to pray for peace, reflecting his deep desire for a more harmonious world.

He was blessed with four grandchildren over the past three years and was looking forward to teaching them about the outdoors, just as he did with his children.

Marty is survived by his sons, Yuri and Jonah Horowitz; his stepdaughter, Maria Piessis; his sister, Susan Flowers; his partner, Jo Lyn Watson; and his four grandchildren: Elio, Kentaro, Alexandra, and Eugenie.

He will be deeply missed, but his legacy will live on through the lives he touched and the endless memories he left behind. In the summer, a celebration of life will be held so family and friends can gather to celebrate his life and impact on Aspen. If you’d like to be notified, email memorial@martinhorowitz.com.