Ed's Epistle: "Remembering A Man and His Son"

Ed's Epistle......Ramblin's and Ruminations of a Disciple of Dino




"Remembering A Man and His Son"



”For rarely are sons similar to their fathers: most are worse, and a few are better than their fathers.” Homer

In the animal kingdom, the offspring of an eagle, is an eagle. In the entertainment kingdom, offspring of star is often a victim of circumstance. Rarely do the sons and daughters live up to the lofty accomplishments of their famous parents. Unfair and unsolicited comparisons is the nature of the inherited business.

Dean Paul Martin Jr., born November 17th 1951 to Dean and Jeanne Martin. The proudest family jewel in Dean Martin’s “King of Cool” crown. Common Hollywood bloodlines, unlike Royal Bloodlines, typically bestow nothing more than a surname. Or, in the case of Dino Martin Jr., a cognomen, a surname, and a suffix. Rare is the child who can take the burden of his father’s name, his famous father’s name, and further enrich it.

“When a father gives to his son, both laugh; when a son gives to his father, both cry.” Proverb

Dino Jr., accomplished tennis player, Golden Globe nominated actor, singer, and military pilot. Handsome man once married to actress Olivia Hussey, and later to Olympic Gold Medalist Dorothy Hamill. To suggest Dino Jr. failed to enrich his bloodline would be an offense. Dino Jr. seized the spirit of Dean, added some drums, took to athletic competition, jumped on a motorcycle, and boarded a jet fighter! Dino Jr. wasn’t one to sit idle at the feet of his father, The Idol.

Dean Paul Martin Jr. accomplished what few celebrity children could. Almost in a rebellious fashion, Dino Jr. thrust upon the scene his own man. Outside of his first stint at singing and playing guitar in the teen group Dino, Desi, & Billy, Dino Jr. pretty much shied away from the music scene. Tennis was his new challenge. Motorcycles were his hobby.

When daddy-o Dino sauntered, Dino Jr. sprinted. When daddy-o Dino crooned, Dino Jr. careened. Whether the Dino gene drove him to be his own man, or follow in his father’s famous footsteps, we’ll never know.



“To a father, when a child dies, the future dies; to a child when a parent dies, the past dies.” Red Auerbach


San Gorgonio Mountain, aka Old Greyback. At 11,503 ft. it’s the highest point in Southern California. Old Greyback, hiding like a coward in a snowstorm, took the soul of Dino Jr. when his National Guard F-4 Phantom fighter jet plunged mountainside.

In celebration of the pride and joy of a great man.