Skip to content

A town square for an unsquare town

redbankgreen

Standing for the vitality of Red Bank, its community, and the fun we have together.

SCHOOL RECALLS BIGHEARTED ALBERT MARTIN

Isaac Coates and Garret Sickels reflect on their classmate and teammate Albert Martin, who died suddenly Monday. (Photo by Rebecca Desfosse. Click to enlarge)

By REBECCA DESFOSSE

Moving through the crowded hallways at Red Bank Regional, on the football field or in the paint on the school’s basketball court, Albert Martin cut an imposing figure.

In reality, though, he was six-foot-four and 220 pounds of “teddy bear,” a young man “just coming into his own” as a student and athlete, one with a future full of promise, his fellow students, coaches and others recalled Tuesday.

Less than 24 hours after collapsing during a basketball scrimmage, tearful members of the school community struggled to come to terms with the Red Bank 17-year-old’s sudden and thus-far-unexplained death.

Martin, the only senior on the varsity basketball squad, had played six minutes of the first period of a the first scrimmage of the season Monday afternoon, against Point Pleasant Beach High, without sign of any health issues, said Coach Scott Martin, no relation to the player.

“Without him, we struggled,” the coach said. As Martin prepared to re-enter the game with two other players, the team huddled on the sidelines, put their hands in at the center and called out “One, two, three BUCS!” At that point, Martin collapsed, the coach and others said.

After attempts to revive him courtside, Martin was transported to Riverview Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

School officials said they did not know yet the cause of Martin’s death.

At a press conference called Tuesday afternoon, school officials and fellow students recalled Martin as “a kind soul,” a bighearted giant who was fun to be around and “the nicest kid.”

Senior football star Garret Sickels recalled that in first grade, Martin was the first kid to introduce himself, initiating a friendship that continued from that day. “He’s that guy you want to be friends with and have on your side,” Sickels said.

Baseketball team manager Kadyjah Smith, another senior, recalled that Martin would carry her books for her sometimes.

“He was so big, people were intimidated,” Smith said, “but he would say, ‘No, just give me a hug.'”

Martin had lost more than 60 pounds in the last year, becoming “lean and energetic,” said Coach Martin, and was getting better grades than in the past, according to Principal Risa Clay, who had recently congratulated him with a note for “fantastic” grades.

Choking up, Coach Martin said Martin “was just hitting his stride as a young man, and it was going to be a great stride.”

“All students are hurting,” said Athletic Director Lou DelPra, but “we will mend, go on and be stronger because of knowing Albert.”

Superintendent Jim Stefankiewicz said counselors were available to students, staff and family members.

Funeral arrangements have not yet announced.

 

Remember: Nothing makes a Red Bank friend happier than to hear "I saw you on Red Bank Green!"
Partyline
RED TRUCKS AT RED ROCK
A small dishwasher fire at Red Rock Tap and Grill was put out quickly by firefighters overnight, causing minimal damage. Red Bank Fire Depar ...
CREATIVE COVER UP
The windows of Pearl Street Consignment on Monmouth Street were smashed when a driver crashed their car through them injuring an employee la ...
THEY’RE BACK!
Ospreys returned to the skies over Red Bank this week for the first time since they migrated to warmer climes in late fall. With temperature ...
SPRING IS SPRUNG
RED BANK: Spring 2024 arrives on the Greater Red Bank Green with the vernal equinox at 11:06 p.m. Tuesday.
RED BANK’S FINEST – AND NEWEST
Red Bank Police Officer Eliot Ramos was sworn in as the force’s newest patrolman Thursday, and if you’re doing a double take thinkin ...
EASTER EGG MAYHEM AT THE PARK
An errant whistle spurred an unexpectedly early start to the Spring Egg Hunt on Sunday, which had been scheduled to begin at eggsactly 11am ...
PRESEASON DOCKWORK
RED BANK: With winter winding down, marina gets ready for boating season with some dockwork on our beautiful Navesink River.
CORNED BEEF AND DISCO FRIES?
It’s Friday, and smart Lent-observing Leprechauns know the pot of gold at the end of Red Bank’s rainbow is actually the deliciou ...
SURFBOARD DITCHED
It’s a violation of etiquette in surfing to ditch your board.  (it could hit another surfer and hurt them). But someone appears to ha ...
ELSIE, TAKE ME WITH YOU!
Soaked by pouring rain with the temperature hovering in the low 40’s, this sign in the window of Elsie’s Subs on Monmouth Street ...
WALK THIS WAY
PARTYLINE: Before-and-afters of a sidewalk cleanup on West Street.
SOGGY NOTION
RED BANK: Breezeway sculpture captured the mood downtown as heavy rains fell Saturday morning.
HOME DELIVERY
RED BANK: After a subdivision, an instant house rises on a new Catherine Street lot.
COMMUNITY PROFILES
For Black History Month, Red Bank's Community Engagement and Equity Advisory Committee has been running a series of local profiles on Facebo ...
HEARTY FAREWELL FOR HARDY
RED BANK: Council to honor DPU supervisor Rich Hardy, who retired recently after almost 39 years of keeping things running.
HOMEBOUND? READ ON…
RED BANK: Can't get to the public library? It's now offering free delivery and pickups for homebound borough residents.
TAMING A BEAST OF A WEEK
RED BANK: After the second snowfall of the week, a borough family finds the perfect use for it – a Godzilla snow sculpture.
RED BANK: LIBRARY CLOSED, BUT THE HILL’S OPEN
RED BANK: Though the library was closed by a snowstorm, kids got to enjoy the riverfront property's steep slope Tuesday.
LIGHT(HOUSE) MAKEOVER
This year, getting ready for spring means a midwinter makeover for Strollo's Lighthouse in Red Bank.
TODAY: LOCAL PUPPY COMPETES ON ANIMAL PLANET’S “PUPPY BOWL”
Red Bank’s very own rescue puppy, Biscuit, is set to compete in Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl this Sunday, February 11, at 2 PM. Th ...