Martin Leigh Buckman, an advertising executive and lifelong Baltimorean who remained active in the Jewish community well into his 90s, died on April 19. He was 95.
A Baltimore native, Buckman grew up in the Forest Park neighborhood, where he later recalled a sense of freedom exploring the city, riding streetcars and attending jazz performances. He spoke often about spending time with friends and attending social gatherings in his youth, including events held in neighborhood homes.
His father, Harold Buckman, ran a men’s clothing store with his brothers on Light and West streets, where Martin Buckman and other family members helped with tailoring and sales. The store was known for handmade suits, and relatives said the business reflected the family’s close relationships and shared work ethic.
He attended local public schools, including Forest Park High School, where he was a member of a student fraternity, and later studied liberal arts at Baltimore City College. He showed an early interest in art and design, skills that would shape his career in advertising. Before the use of computers, Buckman created illustrations by hand, working at a drawing board to produce campaigns for clients.
He also developed an interest in music and broadcasting. During his school years, he worked at the radio station WCBM, where he hosted a jazz program. He remained interested in music throughout his life and continued to follow performers and recordings he had first encountered as a young man. He frequently discussed musicians he admired and the shows he had attended.
Buckman began his advertising career at local companies including the men’s clothier Schoeneman’s in Owings Mills and later the Baltimore department store chain Hutzler’s.
After that business closed, he continued in advertising and marketing roles, including work for food companies such as Tulkoff Food Products, where he and his wife, Carol, appeared together at promotional events and food shows.
Family members said he took pride in his work and often shared projects with his children, including radio commercials and print advertisements he helped create.
Colleagues and relatives described him as organized and thoughtful in his approach. “He was smart that way,” his daughter Cristianne “Cris” Freiert said. “He was intuitive about advertising.”
In his later years, Buckman remained socially active, participating in groups known as the Bagel Boys and the Panthers, where he hosted events and served in roles that included reaching out to members after a death. He maintained regular lunches with longtime friends and continued to build connections.
After retiring, he volunteered at the Jewish Museum of Maryland, where he helped archive historical newspaper articles and materials related to Jewish Baltimore.
“He loved that job because he loved history,” Freiert said.
Buckman maintained strong ties to Jewish life. He was affiliated at different times with synagogues including Temple Emanuel, Oheb Shalom Congregation and Temple Beth El. He regularly attended services, particularly on Friday nights. Family members said he observed Jewish holidays and helped host Passover Seders, sometimes adapting traditions in ways that brought the family together. He also took an interest in Jewish history and the role of Baltimore’s Jewish community over time.
“It very much centered him in his life,” Freiert said.
After his divorce, relatives said he was a warm and involved father. He made an effort to spend time with his children on weekends, often planning activities for them and keeping those relationships consistent over time.
“He would always have something for us to do,” his son James Buckman said.
He was also known for responding without judgment in difficult moments. When one of his children called from California needing help to return home, Buckman arranged a plane ticket without hesitation.
“I’m sending you a ticket,” James Buckman recalled him saying.
Family members said he valued kindness and avoided holding grudges, lessons that shaped his relationships within the family and beyond.
“I think he taught a lot about being kind and not letting grudges take over,” James Buckman said.
In his final weeks, Buckman’s health declined rapidly after a period of independence and activity. Family members said he had remained engaged in daily life shortly before becoming ill.
At home, he was described as a devoted husband and father who emphasized connection. He was married to his second wife, Carol, for more than four decades until her death in 2021.
“He valued family, friends, love,” Freiert said.
He adopted two of his stepdaughters, including Freiert, who said she met him as a young child and came to see him as her father.
“We chose each other,” she said.
Buckman remained closely connected to his children and grandchildren, sharing updates and taking pride in their lives.
“He always saw you,” Freiert said. “You always knew you mattered.”
Ellen Braunstein is a freelance obituary writer. She welcomes suggestions for individuals who had meaningful ties to the Baltimore Jewish community. Email [email protected].
