Raymond J. Marta, a longtime Oakland Tribune staff
artist and graphic arts director, died Feb. 28, 2006 at John Muir
Hospital in Walnut Creek. He was 83. Born Feb. 3, 1923, in Butte, Mont.,
Mr. Marta moved to the Bay Area as a youth. He graduated from St.
Mary's High School in 1940. After high school, Mr. Marta was torn
between medical school and art school. He enrolled in one semester of
pre-med classes before settling on an art career, family members said.
He took classes at St. Mary's College and the California College of Arts
and Crafts before joining the U.S. Air Force in 1942. There, he served
as a technical sergeant in Washington, D.C. (No further information
available at this time)
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Raymond John Marta
Raymond John Marta Feb. 3, 1923 - Feb. 28, 2006 A native of Montana, Raymond moved to California as a youth where he graduated from St. Mary's High School in Berkeley, and was quarterback of the football team. Ray enrolled at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, but interrupted his education to serve in counter-intelligence for the Air Force during World War II. Upon discharge, he studied at the Academy of Advertising Art in San Francisco, where he met his wife-to-be, Phyllis Kaercher of Philadelphia. Ray worked as a free-lance illustrator for several advertising agencies before beginning his long-term employment at the Oakland Tribune in 1950. He married Phyllis in 1951, was appointed art director of the Tribune in 1969 and retired in 1987. Ray was well regarded for his gentle manner and artistic skill. He created the masthead for the Oakland Tribune, was instrumental in redesigning the newspaper, and received several awards and commendations for his illustrations.
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